NOTRE DAME, Ind.—For Bellarmine, the script was similar to its opening exhibition against Louisvillle: play an ACC opponent close for 38 minutes, then see the chance for an upset vanish in the closing minutes. 
 
On Friday night in Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center, the Knights battled host Notre Dame close the entire game and when Alex Cook converted a layup at the 2:25 mark it was a one-possession game at 54-51.  However, the Irish closed with a 7-0 run in the final 1:53 to claim a 61-51 victory.
 
"First of all, the opportunity (to play Notre Dame) is the thing I'm most thankful for," said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport. "The experience for our players has been tremendous."
 
"But, you break the game down," Davenport continued, "and Louisville outscores us in second chance points 17 to 2 and Notre Dame outscores us 15 to nothing. Now, their (Notre Dame's) length has a lot to do with that and we're not accustomed to that. Tonight, on challenged shots we're five out of 26, which I attribute to their length.  Unchallenged shots—open shots—we go 14 out of 25, 56 percent, so that's kind of what the game--from a physical standpoint--boils down to."
 
The Irish opened the game with a quick 12-2 lead, but the Knights dug in and fought back to claim a brief 19-18 advantage.  However, Notre Dame closed the first half with another 12-2 run to take a 30-21 lead into halftime.
 
The home team scored the first four points of the second period to increase the margin to 13—the biggest of the game.  Again, the Knights clawed their way back into contention only to see Notre Dame end the second half on another run.
 
Both defenses caused the offenses to struggle. The Knights's defense was solid, forcing the Irish to settle for 3-pointers, of which they hoisted 31 on the night.  Only eight found the mark for just 25.8 percent, and overall, Bellarmine held Notre Dame to just 34.9 percent field goal shooting
 
The Knights, to Coach Davenport's point, took many challenged shots and managed to shoot just 37.3 percent from the field as the Irish blocked seven shots on the night.
 
Individually, Ethan Claycomb had the best performance, statistically, for the Knights with 11 points and nine rebounds. Dylan Penn added 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.
 
Prentiss Hubb had the hot hand for the Irish, draining five of nine triples and finishing with a game-high 18 points. John Mooney, the All-ACC performer from a year ago, collected a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards while Juwan Durham, the 6-11 forward, hauled in 13 rebounds and swatted five shots.
 
Bellarmine opens regular season play on Friday when they host Northwood at 8 p.m.
 
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