By Quin Welch, Sports Editor
Thursday night was a celebration of Bellarmine men’s basketball. That’s how it felt, anyway.
The 113-60 smackdown of the St. Joseph’s Pumas was arguably the most impressive showing by the Knights in 2015-16. Although the Knights’ effort on Thursday was spectacular, the game featured three moments of historical significance that stole the show.
Just 13 seconds into the game, junior forward Rusty Troutman became the 37th member of Bellarmine’s 1,000-point club. Senior forward George Suggs said Troutman is the ultimate Bellarmine basketball player.
“If you were going to make a prototype Bellarmine guy, it would be Rusty,” Suggs said. “He’s the ideal guy for this program, and he means the world to it.”
Coach Scotty Davenport said Troutman makes him want to coach until his is 100.
“If you could coach 15 Rusty Troutmans every year you would coach until you’re 100 years old,” Davenport said. “He’s the epitome of the way you’re supposed to play the game on and off the court in the classroom, in the community, on the court and in the locker room. He’s the consummate team player.”
Not too long after Troutman’s basket, Suggs made some history of his. Suggs’ block with 15:38 left in the first half made him the all-time leading shot blocker in Knights history. The 6-foot-10-inch St. Louis native said blocking shots is something that has come natural to him over the years.
“It’s never been something I’ve worked on,” Suggs said. “It’s mostly timing.”
In addition to Thursday’s impressive achievements by individuals, the Knights did something particularly remarkable as a team. They set a new Bellarmine single- game assist record with 37 for the game. Senior guard Michael Parrish, who dished out nine of Bellarmine’s unbelievable 37 assists, said he didn’t think he’d ever see a day quite like this.
“Actually, no I did not (think that was possible),” Parrish said. “I did not know this was coming. The way we shared the ball, that’s the definition of Coach Davenport’s basketball.”
St. Joseph’s head coach Tom Church said once Bellarmine got off to a hot start – Bellarmine led 26-8 with 12:58 remaining in the first half – the game was essentially over for the Pumas.
“We knew we couldn’t let them get off to a hot start, and certainly that’s what happened,” Church said. “Them seeing the ball go down like that, knocking down shots like that, the floodgates just opened. It was just one of those nights for them.”
Davenport said he was happy with how his team responded after a road trip in which the Knights dropped a nail-biter against Wisconsin-Parkside in overtime.
“I’m proud of all 15 guys because they kept telling me after the road trip they had grown,” Davenport said. “So my challenge to them tonight was, ‘If you truly are growing, then it’s coming from you, not me.’”