LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The host Murray State Racers used a 19-0 run to turn back the visiting Bellarmine Knights 78-59 on Saturday night at the CFSB Center.
 
Bellarmine had built a seven-point advantage over the first 15:20 of the game, but Dylan Penn's layup with 4:40 remaining in the opening period would be the last points the Knights scored until Garrett Tipton drilled a 3-pointer at the 16:59 mark of the second half, a scoring drought of 7:41.
 
During that time, the Racers turned a seven-point deficit into a 12-point lead, and the Knights never recovered. While Bellarmine managed to whittle the margin to eight at the 7:53 mark, the Knights missed some opportunities, and Murray capitalized down the stretch to extend the lead to as many as 20 before settling for the 19-point win.
 
In his postgame radio comments, Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport expressed disappointment in his team's offensive execution, particularly the lack of ball reversals, which resulted in taking contested shots and making just 42 percent from the field.
 
Davenport said turnovers were the Knights' real Achilles heel against MSU, however. "All you need to know about this game is points off turnovers is 26 to seven." he said. "That's all you need to know…that's hard to overcome."
 
Murray State's Tevin Brown had the hot hand, draining nine of 15 field goals, including six of 11 from beyond the arc. He led all scorers with 27 points.
 
Davenport said the Knights had some bright spots, complimenting the play of Tipton, Curt Hopf and Juston Betz.  "I thought Garrett and Curt and Juston were as courageous as they could be."
 
Tipton paced the Knights with a career-high 15 points while Hopf pulled down a game-high seven rebounds and went 3-for-3 from the field in finishing with seven points. CJ Fleming added 10 points for the Knights.
 
Bellarmine (0-2) continues the extremely challenging start to its season with a trip to the West Coast next week where they'll face St. Mary's of California and the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs.  The Knights conclude their trip out west with contests against No. 2 UCLA and Central Michigan.
 
"This is the toughest six-game span I'll ever have in my life," Davenport said. "No one in the country can match the stretch that we're on."
 
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