LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The No. 3 Bellarmine Knights built a 27-point lead about midway through the second period and cruised to a 79-62 victory over Northwood on Friday night in the season opener for both squads.
 
Playing in the annual GLIAC/GLVC challenge for the sixth consecutive year, the Knights made it a perfect 6-0 against the Timberwolves over that span behind a 20-point, six-rebound effort from senior Alex Cook. Fellow senior Ben Weyer added 17 points and five boards while sophomore transfer Pedro Bradshaw put 17 points, four rebounds and three assists.
 
Fifteen players on the Bellarmine roster saw action with freshmen Alec Pfriem and Bash Wieland recording their first points as collegians.
 
The Knights got quite a few open looks from downtown, and took advantage of those opportunities, knocking down 10 of 19 triples on the night with Bradshaw and Weyer canning three apiece.
 
Bellarmine held Northwood to just 38.6 percent shooting including five of 25 three-pointers. The Knights also enjoyed a 37-28 rebounding edge.
 
Ja'Kavien Lewis, who was the GLIAC Freshman of the Year last season, paced the Timberwolves with 18 points and six assists while big man Bruno Solomun hauled in nine rebounds for Northwood.
 
"The statistics tell it all," said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport. "In the first half we shoot 43 percent with seven assists.  The second half we shoot 56 percent on 10 assists on 14 baskets.  It came down to shot selection."
 
Overall, the Knights finished shooting 49.1 percent from the field and connected on 17 of 18 free throws for 94.4 percent.  
 
CJ Fleming finished with a solid stat line for the Knights with eight points, four assists and no turnovers in 25 minutes of action—the most logged by a Bellarmine player. Dylan Penn joined Fleming, Cook, Weyer and Bradshaw in the starting lineup and finished with four points and tied Fleming for a team-high four assists.
 
The Knights are back in action Saturday at 8 p.m. on day two of the GLIAC/GLVC challenge.  Bellarmine faces Saginaw Valley at 8 p.m.  The Cardinals dropped a tight 78-74 decision to UIndy on Friday afternoon in Knights Hall.
 
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