Box Score LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The No. 2 Bellarmine University Knights snapped the 34-game winning streak of the visiting and third-ranked Drury Panthers with a solid 85-77 victory in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game played in front of a sellout crowd at Knights Hall on Thursday night. 

In a game with 59 fouls and 71 free throws, the Knights outlasted the defending national champions with a balanced effort in which five Bellarmine players scored in double figures.  Leading the way were Jake Thelen and Keisten Jones, who tallied 17 points apiece. Tanner Gibson and Vance Hall each contributed 13 points, and Josh Derksen scored 11.

"It's not about rankings it's about playing a great basketball team," said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport.  "They won 34 straight and they're the defending national champion.  They're as solid and well-coached a team as we've seen. This game had the makings of championship level quality, no ifs ands or buts."

"I'm going to give two groups credit (for this victory)," said Davenport. "One, obviously our players.  Their preparation and attention to detail was tremendous.  And then, this student body that came out and supported us was phenomenal.  I'm just so appreciative of those guys supporting their fellow students."

The Knights controlled the game from the outset when Tanner Gibson drilled a trey from the corner to open the game's scoring.  The Panthers wrestled the lead away only once when Kameron Bundy's bucket put Drury ahead 11-10 with 15:04 remaining in the first half. 

Bellarmine relied on a solid defensive effort, holding a good-shooting Drury squad to just 42.9 percent shooting on the night as Bellarmine recorded nine blocked shots and eight steals. The Panthers also stymied the Knights' offense a bit, holding Bellarmine to just 47.1 percent shooting.  Coming into the contest, Bellarmine and Drury ranked 1-2 in the nation in field goal percentage.

The Knights led by as many as 17 on two different occasions.  However, coming down the stretch Drury got as close as five as they took advantage of several Bellarmine missed opportunities.  The Knights stiffened in the final minute as Vance Hall when 4-of-4 from the line in the final 1:02, and Corbin Maynard came up with a big steal to help seal the victory.

The foul-plagued game saw six players—three from each team—foul out.  Bellarmine's Thelen, Gibson and George Suggs all succumbed to fouls as did Drury's leading scorer Cameron Adams along with Drake Patterson and Sean Osler. 
  
Drury saw three players reach double figures with Adams and Lonnie Boga totaling 12 each, and Bundy leading all scorers with 18.

Bellarmine improved to 11-0 (3-0 GLVC) on the season, to mark their second-best winning streak to open a season.  The 2008-09 squad opened the year 14-0.
Drury, suffering its first loss, falls to 11-1 and 3-1 in league play. 

Bellarmine returns to action on Saturday afternoon when they host Missouri S&T in a 3:15 contest.

BOX SCORE (HTM)