JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was a frustrating night at Swisher Gymnasium Saturday as the Bellarmine men's basketball tested Jacksonville, but could not get over the hump in a 73-64 loss.
 
True freshman Tyler Doyle posted a career-high 17 points, connecting on 7 of 12 shots, and matched career highs with five assists and three steals, but the Dolphins would not relinquish the lead in the second half en route to the win. Jacksonville clinched their spot in the ASUN Tournament and remains tied atop the conference with Lipscomb, North Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast at 9-3.
 
The Dolphins started the game on a 17-5 run, but an 8-0 Bellarmine run capped by an AJ Lux three would bring the Knights back to within four. Later, the Knights would briefly jump in front after an 11-1 run, including a Billy Smith dish to Lux to put Bellarmine in front at 29-28. The lead, which would ultimately be their last, was short-lived, but the Knights kept it within one possession at the break, 35-32.
 
Jacksonville came out of the locker room hot, posting a 12-3 run to start the second half, hitting five of their first seven shots to establish a 47-35 advantage.
 
As they have throughout the season, however, Bellarmine would not lay down. Myles Watkins took a rebound coast to coast and laid it in the cut the Knights' deficit to six with 6:03 left and then Grant Whitaker would later lay one in after grabbing an offensive rebound to make it 60-56 with 4:18 left.
 
Despite Jacksonville's Robert McCray V not being a factor, the Dolphins  used a 9-2 run that included a dagger three by Chris Arias with 90 seconds left to pull away. A Billy Smith three cut the lead back down to six, but Jacksonville connected on four of their final six free throws to close the door on the Knights' hopes.
 
McCray, Jacksonville's leading scorer and ASUN Player of the Year candidate, was limited to just 18 minutes and one point while dealing with an injury and an illness, missing all four of his shots. It was Stephon Payne III who stepped up for the Dolphins with a game-high 20 points while Zimi Nwokeji added 14 and Arias finished with 12.
 
Jack Karasinski added 12 points for the Knights, playing just 14 minutes. Whitaker set a new career high with nine points while Smith finished with eight, marking just the second time in ASUN play he has been held to single digits—both times coming against Jacksonville.
 
With their four-game road swing having concluded, Bellarmine next returns home for four straight starting with Queens on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET inside Knights Hall.
 
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