LOUISVILLE, Ky.—It'll be Knights versus Knights when Bellarmine kicks off its first postseason game in school history as a member of NCAA Division I.
 
The Bellarmine Knights (13-7) face the Army Black Knights (12-9) in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) on Monday at 8:30 p.m.  The game is the final quarterfinal contest in the 8-team tourney, which takes place March 22, 23, and 24 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
Bellarmine picked up the bid by turning in a breakthrough performance as a new Division I school, reeling off 10 straight wins at one point to finish as the ASUN Conference regular season runner-up with a league record of 10-3.
 
Juniors Pedro Bradshaw and Dylan Penn each received First Team All-ASUN accolades in their first season in the league.  
 
Bradshaw was one of three unanimous first-team selections. The native of Russellville, Kentucky, finished the regular season ranked third in the ASUN in scoring (15.6), fourth in rebounding (7.2) and 11th in assists (2.7). In addition, he ranked third in free-throw percentage (82.8) and eighth in field-goal percentage (52.2).

Penn completed the regular season tied for third in the ASUN in assists (3.6) while ranking 15th in scoring (12.6). The Evansville, Indiana, native averages 3.6 rebounds and is shooting 51 percent for Bellarmine, which was the ASUN runner-up in the regular season and secured the 2-seed in the ASUN Conference Championship.

Bellarmine, which ranks third in the country in field goal percentage at 51.5 percent, has plenty of more options on the offensive end with both Ethan Claycomb and CJ Fleming averaging in double digits. 
 
Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport, who is nominated for two different national coach of the year awards, is taking his 13th straight team to the postseason.  When Bellarmine exited the Division II ranks, the Knights held the record for most consecutive NCAA Tournament fields made with 12 (counting last year when they made the field, but the tourney was canceled).
 
The opposing Knights—the Black Knights of Army—compiled a Patriot League record of 7-7 and went 1-1 in the conference tourney, defeating American University in the quarterfinals before bowing to Loyola (MD) in the semifinals.
 
Army is led by senior guard Lonnie Grayson, who was named Second Team All-Patriot League.  The Cincinnati native averages 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest.
 
Joining Grayson in the Army backcourt is 2021 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Josh Caldwell.  A 6-2 guard, Caldwell also is an offensive threat, averaging 12.6 points a game.  Yet another Army guard corralled All-Rookie accolades from the Patriot League with Jalen Rucker picking up the honor. The 5-10 Baltimore native is putting up 10 point per contest for the Black Knights.
 
Down low, Army is paced by 6-8 forward Alex King from Columbus, Indiana while 6-7 Nick Finke is the Black Knights' leading rebounder at 6.1 per game.
 
FAN INFORMATION:
 
Tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the game at the Ocean Center.  All seats are $20 (cash only) and all tickets are general admission.  The CBI organizers anticipate there will be plenty of availability.
 
Fans wishing to watch the game online can do so through the FloHoops streaming service.  A subscription is required.  For more information, log onto: https://flosports.link/3lhDHoT
 
Fans can also listen to local radio coverage with the call by Doug Ormay and Mark Bugg. Monday's game will be aired on 93.9 The Ville.