Box Score SAGINAW, Mich.—Behind a huge game from senior forward Jake Thelen, the No. 10 Bellarmine University Knights shook off a sluggish first half to post an 81-71 victory over the host Saginaw Valley Cardinals tonight in the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge in O'Neill Arena.

Thelen poured in 20 points and tied a career high with 18 rebounds to lead the Knights, who trailed 32-30 at the half.

"I'm really, really, really proud of our basketball team," said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport. "On a night when you don't reach your goals, a night when you're behind at halftime and when you get outscored by 27 points from the 3-point line, and you still win an in-region, road game… this was a great win."

"I don't even know how to start talking about Jake Thelen," Davenport said.  "The whole rest of the team had 21 rebounds, and he had 18." The head coach also lauded the performance of a number of players, calling tonight's game Josh Sewell's coming out party.  "I thought he played with confidence and aggressiveness.  He was a key component in this basketball game," Davenport said.

The opening 20 minutes found the Knights in unfamiliar territory, shooting only 38.5 percent and falling behind by as many as six in the early going.  Bellarmine righted the ship in the second period by getting back to the things that they normally do very well—shooting and passing.  The second half saw the Knights shoot 53.6 from the field, and they collected nine of their 14 assists in the final 20 minutes. Bellarmine also took better care of the basketball, committing just four turnovers in the second half after coughing it up eight times before the break.

Providing a spark for Bellarmine was Sewell, who was called upon when George Suggs got into early foul trouble.  The transfer from Miami responded by helping lead a 16-5 run in which the Knights turned a six-point deficit into 47-42 lead, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game. Sewell finished with 16 points and four rebounds.

Bellarmine also got a gutty performance out of sophomore forward Josh Derksen.  After suffering a slight knee injury in the first half that limited him to just two points and seven minutes of playing time, the 6-9 Australian came out in the second half and scored 14 points on five of nine shooting.

For the game, the Knights shot 46.3 percent from the field and sank 27 of 33 free throws.  Meanwhile the Cardinals (1-1) were limited to just 36.7 percent shooting and got to the charity stripe just 18 times, making 14.

Bellarmine (2-0) now gets a week to prepare for their home opener when the No. 16 Findlay Oilers visit Knights Hall at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23.

BOX SCORE (HTM)