Box Score LOUISVILLE, Ky.—On a night honoring seniors, No. 15 Bellarmine University got big contributions from seniors Chris Dowe and Jelani Johnson to dispatch Great Lakes Valley Conference foe McKendree 80-66 in the Knights' final regular season game of the of the year at Knights Hall on Thursday night.

Dowe led five Bellarmine double-figure scorers with 16 points and found his teammates for nine assists as Bellarmine led wire to wire.  Johnson also stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six assists, and game highs with seven rebounds and four assists. Not only did Johnson get the job done on the court during the game, he also played piano during the singing of the national anthem.

“I can't tell you how proud I am of our seniors, and both of them really played well tonight,” said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport.  “We'll be able to replace them as basketball players, but it will be virtually impossible to replace them as people.  The most important thing for them is that they got a tremendous education from a tremendous institution, and now they can apply that to make their community and this world a better place. These two guys will be able to do that.”

Bellarmine (20-6, 12-6 GLVC)  opened the game with a 9-2 run, and the Bearcats never seriously threatened the remainder of the game.  However, McKendree's hot 3-point shooting kept them within striking distance the entire game with the Knights largest lead being 19.

Both teams had great shooting nights with Bellarmine converting 34 of their 59 their field goal attempts, and the Bearcats making exactly half of their 48 shots including going 12-20 from long range. 

McKendree (7-21, 1-17 GLVC) was led by Clinton Happe with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range.

“I have no qualms at all with our offense,” said Davenport. “but in the postseason, it will be all about defense.  How well we can defend and rebound the basketball.”

The postseason picture for the Knights includes a home opening round game in the GLVC Postseason Tournament on Sunday against Illinois-Springfield at 3:15 p.m.  The Knights are the No. 5 seed in the tournament, and the Prairie Stars are the No. 12 seed.  After the opening round games, the teams will be reseeded for the quarterfinals on March 7.

The top four seeds of the GLVC tournament:  1-Drury, 2-Wisconsin-Parkside, 3-Southern Indiana, and 4-Maryville.  If Bellarmine wins its opening round game on Sunday, they will face Maryville in the quarterfinals.

Tickets for the GLVC tournament home game at Bellarmine will go on sale Friday at 9 a.m. in the lobby of Knights Hall.  Ticket sales will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.  On Sunday (game day) tickets will go on sale at 2 p.m.  Season ticket holders will be able to purchase their same seats through Saturday's sale hours.  Ticket prices are $15, $12, and $10. No phone sales will be available. 

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