LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Turns out Thursday's contest in the KFC Yum! Center was simply a warm-up.

In Friday's return to Freedom Hall, the Bellarmine University men's basketball team commanded play from start to finish in an 89-39 victory over Midway.

Five players scored in double figures for Bellarmine (5-6), which won its third straight game and fifth out of its last six. The 39 points allowed was just three off the program record set in the program's very first year in 1951 against Louisville Municipal.

In fact, it was the second time this season Bellarmine held an opponent under 40 points: The Knights were one shy of the program record Nov. 28 in a 75-37 win over Franklin. Bellarmine limited Midway to just 15 field goals and 27.3 percent shooting.

That stifling defensive effort came one night after Bellarmine defeated Asbury 87-55 at the downtown KFC Yum! Center.

"As much as I believe in offense, this team has taken basketball to a different level, taking unselfishness on offense to playing unselfish defense," Knights Coach Scott Davenport said.

Of course, Bellarmine wasn't too shabby on offense either. The Knights shot 54.1 percent, including 59.3 percent in the first half, and racked up 26 assists on 33 made baskets. They scored 44 points in the paint and amassed 26 off 20 Midway turnovers.

Senior forward Ethan Claycomb and junior guard Garrett Tipton tied for game-high scoring honors with 12 points apiece. Senior guard Dylan Penn tallied 11 while distributing a career-high nine assists, freshman forward Curt Hopf notched 10 points and eight rebounds, and senior guard Juston Betz chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Senior guard CJ Fleming added six rebounds and five assists.

Despite playing its second game in two days, Bellarmine got off to a quick start, as Tipton's 3-pointer pushed the lead to double digits at 19-8 less than eight minutes into the contest. Fleming sank a pair of free throws to boost the advantage to 15 and then a jumper to spike it to 20 before Penn spotted junior guard Alec Pfriem for a basket as the Knights headed into halftime up 45-17.

The second half was much the same, with Penn bumping the lead to 30 after opening the scoring in the stanza, and junior forward Sam DeVault extending the advantage to 40 after nailing a 3-pointer with about 12 minutes left.

Bellarmine plays at 8 p.m. (ET) Wednesday at South Dakota.

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POSTGAME COMMENTS (Coach Davenport, Garrett Tipton, Sam DeVault):