Box Score LIBERTY, Mo.—The No. 2 Bellarmine University Knights had a successful opening to their Great Lakes Valley Conference season with a 73-63 victory at William Jewell on Friday evening in the Mabee Center.

Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport said the Knights got "solid" and "fundamental" performances from the team's senior backcourt of Keisten Jones and Vance Hall to help lead the team to victory.  The duo combined for 40 points on 14-of-18 shooting as Bellarmine shot 60.9 percent from the field as a team.

The Knights (9-0, 1-0 GLVC) were in control from the outset with William Jewell taking their only lead when Devonte Bell hit a trey to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead just 1:39 into the game.  However, the Knights never delivered the knockout blow as their biggest lead was 15 with 7:03 remaining in the game. Bellarmine's Achilles heel was turnovers, committing 19 on the night leading to a 19-11 advantage for WJC in points off turnovers.

"I always say that the general public doesn't understand how hard it is to win on the road," Davenport said. "So this was very, very good win.  Turnovers kill a great offensive basketball team.  If we eliminate nine turnovers and shoot 60 percent, that's six baskets and we win by 22 and everybody's fine with that." The Knights head coach added that "nobody played badly, but we're capable of playing so much better."

One of the bright spots for the Knights was the play of freshman Josh Derksen who scored 12 points and pulled down six rebounds in 14 minutes of action. "In the second half he rallied and really played well," said Davenport of Derksen. "He was a presence inside and needs to be."

Sophomore Tanner Gibson also turned in a solid performance with a team high five assists and netting six points while committing just one turnover.

Bellarmine fans also were pleased to see the debut of Purdue transfer Donnie Hale, who got his first action in a Bellarmine uniform, logging 16 minutes, scoring six points and grabbing three rebounds.  

The Cardinals (5-5, 1-1 GLVC) were led by Bell, who finished with 22 points to tie Bellarmine's Jones for game-high scoring honors.

Statistically, the Knights owned advantages in nearly every phase of the game.  Bellarmine held a 35-26 edge in rebounding and outshot the home team 60.9 percent to just 40.3.  The Knights found the range from beyond the arc, making eight of 14 for 57.1 percent. 

The road trip continues for the Knights with a Sunday contest at Rockhurst University in nearby Kansas City, Mo. The Hawks fell to 4-5, 0-2 GLVC with an 86-68 loss to No. 8 Southern Indiana on Friday night.

BOX SCORE (HTM)