CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Bellarmine Knights Men's Basketball capped a successful trip to The Palmetto State on Tuesday night, winning 74-69 in come-from-behind fashion against the Houston Christian Huskies.  With the win, the Knights improve to 3-4 overall on the season.

It was another game of runs for the Knights early on, as Bellarmine scored the first five points of the game before HCU answered with an 11-4 run.  An 8-3 run that included five points from Michael Wilson Jr. and a converted and-one opportunity from Kenyon Goodin put the Knights back in front 17-14.  The Huskies had the answer again in the form of an 8-2 run before the game took on a seesaw nature with the two teams matching each other basket for basket and trading the lead before HCU opened up a 38-33 lead with back-to-back threes with just under a minute to go in the first half.  Wilson hit a layup and the Knights got a stop to pull back to within 38-35 at halftime.

The Huskies scored the first bucket of the second half, but Bellarmine quickly answered with a three-pointer from Brian Waddell who then found Jack Karasinski for a layup to tie the game at 40.  The Knights' offense then stalled a bit, allowing HCU to go on a 14-6 run to open up an eight-point lead.  In a sign of things to come, Karasinski hit a three with 12:10 to go to cut the deficit to 54-49, after which a Sam Donald dunk made it a three-point game.  A bit later, with the Knights down 60-55, Waddell knocked down an open jumper and Karasinski hit three consecutive three-pointer to propel Bellarmine to an 11-0 run and a 66-60 lead with just under five minutes to go.

HCU came back to tie the game with back-to-back threes of their own with two minutes remaining, but Goodin was able to get to the foul line and make both shots to put Bellarmine back on top 68-66 with 1:27 to go.  After a 1-for-2 performance at the charity stripe for the Huskies, Karasinski secured the rebound and Grant Whitaker hit both foul shots to make it 70-67 with 41 seconds to play.  HCU kept themselves in it with a made basket, but Darrius Bolden knocked down two more freebies to push the lead back to 72-69.  A Husky three-pointer on the ensuing possession failed to find iron, and Karasinski was able to put the game away with one final two-for-two performance at the free throw line for the Knights.

Karasinski tied his career high with 28 points on 9-of-12 shooting, his third 20-point effort of the season.  He went 4-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc, setting a new career high in made three-point shots.  He also went 6-of-7 from the free throw line.  Waddell contributed with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting.  Goodin and Wilson each scored seven points and Karasinski and Donald both led the team with five rebounds apiece.  Donald also led the team with four assists.

As a team, the Knights shot 25-of-42 from the field, their fifth consecutive game shooting at least 50% from the field.  Bellarmine outscored HCU 38-30 in points in the paint.

Up next, the Knights will conclude their three-game road stretch with a game in DeKalb, Ill. against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday, November 29 at 3 PM.

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