LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The No. 9 Bellarmine Knights snapped a rare three-game losing skid with a 73-65 win over Illinois Springfield in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game on Thursday night in Knights Hall.
 
While the Knights never trailed in the game and they seemed to be on the verge of a big run on several occasions, the Prairie Stars hung tough.  After Bellarmine saw its lead swell to as many as 17 early in the second period, UIS started connecting from 3-point land and whittled the margin to just four at the 10 minute mark. Bellarmine was able to slow the Prairie Stars' 3-point shooting coming down the stretch and hang on for a wire-to-wire win. 
 
"Defensively, you have to defend them one on one; then you have to defend the three point line; then you have to rebound the ball," said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport. "At times, we were tremendous.  In the first half they couldn't get a three.  They were of two of seven. In the second half they shoot 23 threes and make seven of them. You have to play a complete game.  We're trying as hard as we can, and that's all you can ask for."
 
The game was sloppy at times with 30 total turnovers, and the game had trouble establishing a flow with 58 free throws attempted. In fact, both teams made more free throws than field goals.  Bellarmine was 20 of 40 from the field while converting 28 of 32 free throws, and UIS made 18 of 50 field goals and 20 of 26 charity tosses.
 
A possible reason for the sloppy play is that both teams were playing without regular starters due to injury.  The Knights were missing both Daniel Ramser and Chivarsky Corbett, while UIS played without leading scorer Gilwan Nelson.
 
With two of his teammates out, Bellarmine's Ben Weyer picked up his game, pouring in a career-high 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds.  Freshman Dylan Penn saw his minutes increase in tonight's game, and he made a positive impact with a perfect shooting game (3-3 from the field and 6-6 from the free throw line) while adding three assists.
 
Bellarmine senior All-American Adam Eberhard, who was out of the starting lineup the previous two games, showed signs of returning to his regular form by tossing in 17 points, claiming five rebounds and handing out four assists.  Alex Cook made his third straight start in the Bellarmine front court just missed a double double with 13 points and nine boards.
 
Vince Walker came off the bench to pace the UIS offense with 16 points.
 
The Knights improve to 19-3, 10-3 GLVC while the Prairie Stars fall to 13-11, 6-8 GLVC.
 
Bellarmine returns to action on Saturday afternoon when they welcome McKendree for a homecoming game at 3:15 p.m.
 
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