FLORENCE, Ala. — The Bellarmine University men's basketball team survived a serious threat to its winning streak down the stretch Friday night.

After building a 17-point lead in the second half, the Knights found themselves fighting off a furious rally by North Alabama, a battle they ultimately won in securing a 66-64 victory over the Lions in ASUN action in Flowers Hall.

In doing so, Bellarmine (12-5, 9-2 ASUN) won for the ninth time in a row. Junior guard Pedro Bradshaw, the reigning ASUN co-Player of the Week, registered a game-high and career-high-tying 24 points against North Alabama (10-7, 6-5) for the league-leading Knights on 7-for-12 shooting from the field and a 9-for-9 effort from the free-throw line. He also grabbed nine rebounds.

"We just won a road game against a heck of a basketball team," Knights Coach Scott Davenport said. "We're thrilled."

The jubilation came after a tense final few minutes.

Although senior guard CJ Fleming sank a 3-pointer just before halftime to provide Bellarmine a 35-30 lead, the Knights struggled from beyond the arc in the first half, but they buried a barrage of 3s during a 17-4 run in the second half.

Bradshaw, Fleming, sophomore guard Alec Pfriem, senior forward Ethan Claycomb and sophomore forward Sam DeVault all nailed 3-pointers as the Knights led 56-39 with 12:55 left. Fleming tallied 12 points and DeVault connected on all three of his shots, including two treys, in adding eight in eight minutes of action.

Bellarmine was still up 13 with less than six minutes left, but one of North Alabama's 10 offensive rebounds led to a 3-pointer.

"When it was 10," Davenport said, "it was game on."

Indeed, North Alabama capitalized on a Bellarmine turnover and then two Knights missed free throws with a 3-pointer and layup to cut its deficit to 66-63 with 1:44 left. An offensive rebound by junior guard Juston Betz led to an extra possession for Bellarmine, and North Alabama missed a game-tying 3-point attempt.

With about five seconds left, Bellarmine missed a short jumper, but Claycomb battled with a Lion for the rebound and the ball — confirmed after a video review — deflected off North Alabama. However, the Lions still had a chance to tie after the Knights turned the ball over after the inbound and deliberately fouled Detalian Brown with less than five seconds left to avoid a potential game-tying 3-pointer.

Brown made the first attempt to get North Alabama within 66-64 and then intentionally missed the second shot. Bellarmine had good position on the rebound, but North Alabama nearly forced a jump ball before time expired, which would have resulted in the Lions maintaining possession and likely attempting a tip play in an effort to force overtime.

However, after a review, the officials determined time had run out before the jump ball was called, preserving yet another Knights win.

"Our focus after the game was learn from tonight, recover for tomorrow," Davenport said. "North Alabama is a brutally athletic team. They're really good.

"Was our execution perfect? No. That's what the challenge is for tomorrow."

The teams will meet again at 7 p.m. (ET) Saturday in Flowers Hall.

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