RICHMOND, Ky. – Bellarmine got a season-high 20 points from Bash Wieland in his return to action after missing eight games with a broken left pinkie, but ultimately fell to Eastern Kentucky 82-70 Saturday night at Baptist Health Arena.

EKU (9-9, 5-0 ASUN) led the entire first half, though Bellarmine (4-16, 0-5 ASUN) came out hot from the field. The Knights shot 7-of-16 (43.8 percent) from deep and 17-of-34 (50.0 percent) overall in the first stanza to keep the deficit at three, 46-43. A jumper from Wieland finally put the Knights up 56-54 with 13:44 to play in the second, but the Colonels responded with a 22-4 run to regain control for good.

With the good news of Wieland's return came the bad news that fifth-year senior Alec Pfriem suffered a torn labrum in his hip during action last week. He will miss the remainder of the season, ending his Bellarmine career after 106 games.

The time missed by Wieland did not seem to faze him during his first game action since Dec. 7. The senior guard scored the first five points for the Knights and finished the game 9-for-13 from the field, 2-for-3 from three, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out a pair of assists.

"Bash was a warrior that everybody who's ever put a uniform on or cheered for Bellarmine University should be proud of," said Bellarmine head coach Scott Davenport. "That kid was amazing."

Ben Johnson added 18 points, including a strong 5-for-9 performance from beyond the arc. It was the sophomore guard's six straight game in double figures since returning to the starting lineup. His four-point play in the final minute of the first half helped keep the Knights within striking distance heading into the locker room.

Langdon Hatton recorded his first double-double in ASUN play, dropping in 12 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, six on the offensive end. He also hit a pair of threes and had a drive to the basket from halfcourt that ended in a monstrous two-handed jam to end the Colonels' 11-0 run in the second half to stop the bleeding momentarily.

Garrett Tipton reached double digits for the 11^th time this season, matching Peter Suder for the most 10-point-plus performances on the team.

The Knights, again dressing just eight players and playing just seven, shot just 34.4 percent in the second half and hit just four threes after nailing seven in the first half.

After Wieland's jumper gave the Knights their second and final lead of the game with 13:44 left, the Colonels rattled off a 22-4 run that featured eight points apiece from senior Devontae Blanton and sophomore Leland Walker.

Blanton scored a season-high 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting and Walker added 21, including going 9-for-10 from the line, for the ASUN preseason favorite Colonels. Isaiah Cozart, the nation's leading shot blocker and second-leading offensive rebounder, grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds (five offensive), blocked two shots and scored nine points.

Bellarmine was whistled for 18 fouls to EKU's eight and the Colonels outscored the Knights 17-3 from the charity stripe.

In addition to Pfriem's absence, the shorthanded Knights remained without Landin Hacker (ankle) for a third straight game and Dezmond McKinney (shoulder) for a sixth straight game.

Bellarmine gets another shot at EKU on Feb. 17 in the return game at Knights Hall.

Fans can welcome Bellarmine back to Freedom Hall on Thursday, Jan. 25 against North Florida. Tipoff will be at 6:30 p.m. ET and tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights) and Facebook (BUKnights).