BOULDER, Colo. – The Bellarmine men's basketball team's nonconference schedule concluded Saturday afternoon with a 79-55 loss at Colorado.
 
Dezmond McKinney led the Knights with 12 points, his highest output since he registered 15 points in the season opener at VCU, connecting on 5-of-9 field goals. Billy Smith scored nine points, grabbed four rebounds and led the team with his five assists to match his season high.
 
Bellarmine was once again without forwards Jack Karasinski for the fifth straight game and Dylan Branson for the second straight game.
 
Bellarmine hung with Colorado in the early minutes of the game, battling to a 6-6 tie after four minutes.
 
Later leading 14-10, the Buffaloes rattled off a 13-0 run to create the initial separation as the Knights went over seven minutes without a field goal. The Buffs used their distinct size advantage over the Knights to shoot 52 percent in the first half en route to a 45-16 halftime lead.
 
The second half was much more competitive as the Knights outscored the Buffaloes 39-34. Colorado was just 1-for-12 from three in the second stanza after hitting 5-of-12 in the first, but still shot 41.9 percent over the final 20 minutes to keep the Knights from threatening.
 
The Knights shot 40 percent for the game and were outrebounded 38-30.
 
Bellarmine has an 11-day break before opening ASUN play on Thursday, January 2 at North Alabama at 7 p.m. ET.
 
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