By Spencer Brown, Staff writer
Bellarmine played aggressively from the start, putting away a struggling Missouri S&T (3-14, 1-8 Great Lakes Valley Conference) early at Knights Hall Saturday. Bellarmine won easily, 91-60.
Senior Adam Eberhard and junior Alex Cook led Bellarmine (18-0, 9-0 GLVC) with 18 points apiece. Eberhard also had six rebounds and three blocks. Cook came off the bench and shot 6-for-6 from the field and 5-for-5 from the line.
Miners’ senior guard Jalen Myers’ double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds) led Missouri S&T.
The Knights, who lead Division II in shooting percentage, shot 58 percent from the field – including 57 percent from the 3-point line and 75 percent from the free-throw line – to build an insurmountable lead. Bellarmine attacked the paint early, and the Miners had no answer for it.
The score was tight early on, but a 14-2 run for the Knights allowed the team to take a double-digit lead, which they held for the rest of the game.
“Our ability to share the ball early was crucial,” Knights head coach Scott Davenport said. “The first 12 minutes of the game really set the tone for us.”
The second half was even better for the Knights as they went on an 11-0 run to build their largest lead of the game at 38. No Knights player saw more than 20 minutes of action, and 14 of the 15 Knights who played scored.
“Give credit to Bellarmine…but (Missouri S&T) put forth a great effort against a really good basketball team,” Miners head coach Jim Glash said.
Missouri S&T found success on the offensive boards, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds compared to Bellarmine’s five.
“We can’t be allowing 14 offensive rebounds…but it’s a great team win,” Bellarmine forward Skyler Hunter said.
With the win, Bellarmine continued its best start in school history as well as its nation-leading home win streak, which has climbed to 67. Bellarmine faces Southern Indiana (14-5, 6-3 GLVC) Saturday at 8 p.m. in Knights Hall.