EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The No. 3 Bellarmine Knights scored the first five points of the game and never trailed as they defeated the Ohio Valley Fighting Scots 84-66 on the second day of the Bill Joergens Memorial Classic hosted by the University of Southern Indiana.

Bellarmine (4-2) shot out to a quick 16-3 lead over the first 5:15 of the game and were never seriously challenged despite a 12-of-26 shooting night from beyond the arc by OVU. 

The Knights led by as many as 22 in the first half before settling for a 48-29 halftime advantage. After the break, Bellarmine extended the lead to 24 at the 12:58 mark but saw that margin shrink to 13 with six and a half minutes remaining. The Knights responded with a 7-0 spurt to re-establish a 20-point bulge and coasted home for the 18-point win.

Yasin Kolo scored 10 of Bellarmine's first 16 points, and the native of Goettingen, Germany finished with a game high 21 points and nine rebounds in just 22 minutes of action.  

Al Davis also posted solid numbers for the Knights with 14 points and no turnovers in 25 minutes—the most logged by any Bellarmine player tonight.  George Suggs added 12 points despite taking just four shots. The 6-10 St. Louis native was 2-for2 from 3-point range and sank six of his seven free throws.

Fourteen players saw action for the Knights with 12 hitting the scoring column, including Daniel Ramser, Skyler Hunter and Rhett Troutman—all of whom registered their first collegiate points tonight.

"This was a great performance," Davenport said, but pointed out that the Knights duplicated their poor second half passing performance from last night's loss to Midwestern State.  "In the first half we had 10 assists on 17 baskets and we shoot 63 percent.  In the second half we have three assists on 11 made baskets and we shoot 41 percent. This was the same stat last night…these numbers don't lie."

The Knights finished the game shooting at 51.9 percent from the field while holding the Fighting Scots to just 41.8 percent.  Ohio Valley made just 11 of their 29 shots inside the 3-point line. 

Bellarmine also won the rebounding battle 34-29 and committed just eight turnovers to OVU's 14.

Ohio Valley (1-6) was paced by Darryl Walker, who had team highs in points and rebounds with 17 and seven.

The Knights now step out of nonconference play to host GLVC foe Illinois-Springfield on Thursday and McKendree on Saturday. Thursday's game promises to be a special challenge for the Knights because UIS defeated the same Findlay club that handed Bellarmine its first loss of the year this past Tuesday. 

BOX SCORE (HTM)