RICHMOND, Ky. – Bellarmine returns to the Bluegrass after a week off, though they still face one more ASUN road test before their next home game. The Knights (4-15, 0-4 ASUN) now head to Eastern Kentucky to battle the Colonels (8-9, 4-0) Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET. ESPN+ will have the coverage.

Bellarmine is 2-5 all-time against EKU, but 2-2 since joining the ASUN. The teams met twice in a three-day span last season with each team earning the win on their home floor.

The Knights trailed the Colonels by seven with 1:53 remaining on January 26 last year at Freedom Hall. Garrett Tipton nailed two threes in the final minute, including one with 0.2 seconds left, to lift the Knights to a 72-71 win. EKU walked away with a 73-63 win two days later in Richmond.

Sophomore guards Peter Suder and Ben Johnson lead the Knights into Baptist Health Arena this time, both having scored double-digits in each of the last five games. Johnson leads BU in scoring on the season, averaging 12.4 points, though Suder is just behind him at 11.8.

Tipton is coming off an 18-point performance at Central Arkansas to lead all scorers and is averaging 14.7 points in his last three games against EKU.

The preseason favorite to win the ASUN among both the media and coaches, EKU struggled during their nonconference schedule, but found their stride once conference play began. The Colonels went just 4-9 in November and December with only one win over a Division I opponent, a 77-76 triumph over Troy in Richmond. They currently ride a four-game winning streak to start conference play into Saturday after easily handling Central Arkansas and North Alabama on the road last week. They will be looking for their first 5-0 start in conference play since 1978-79.

The Colonels spread the ball around well and are led by a trio of double-digits scorers: senior forward Isaiah Cozart (15.6 points per game), sophomore guard Leland Walker (14.4 PPG) and senior forward Devontae Blanton (13.6 PPG). The trio combined for 43 points against UNA on Saturday, though it was senior forward Michael Moreno who led the way with 17 points, hitting on 5-of-7 threes.

Blanton scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in EKU's win over BU last season.

"EKU has all the ingredients great teams share: They are very well coached and they have tremendous experience and depth," said Bellarmine head coach Scott Davenport. "I am very impressed with their balance on offense as they attack both inside and outside. On defense, they press full-court and play solid half-court defense. I am very impressed with their program."

EKU is sixth in the country averaging 6.4 blocks per game. Cozart, a Richmond native and Western Kentucky transfer, is a big reason why. Though he checks in at 6-foot-7, he leads the nation averaging 4.1 blocks per game, including an 11-block performance in the win over Troy. The three shot blockers directly behind him in the national rankings are all 6-foot-10 or taller.

The Colonels are second in the ASUN averaging 81.5 points per game, but 10^th in the conference allowing 76.7 PPG. Bellarmine however, will be up against it on the glass as EKU leads the league with its plus-4.9 rebounding margin.

Colonels coach A.W. Hamilton is not far from home in Richmond. He starred at Scott County High School in Georgetown, Ky., leading the Cardinals to a state title in 1998 with a championship game win over Paintsville. He had them back in the championship game in 1999, but they fell to Ballard.

Following the visit to EKU, the Knights return to Freedom Hall for a pair of games against foes from the Sunshine State. North Florida and Jacksonville will visit on Jan. 25 and Jan. 27, respectively.

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