LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The shots may not have always dropped for the Bellarmine University men’s basketball team, but neither did the Knights’ effort on defense in the second half Saturday against Shaw.
A competitive first half gave way to a one-sided second half as No. 18/23 Bellarmine shut out the Bears for over six minutes following the intermission. BU built an insurmountable advantage during that dominant period of “D” en route to a 70-57 victory at Knights Hall on the final day of the Bellarmine Classic presented by Louisville Airport East Exposition Center.
Junior guard Rusty Troutman poured in a game-high 20 points for Bellarmine (8-2), which won its fifth straight contest, all in double-digit fashion. It was Troutman’s seventh 20-point game and, for good measure, he added a game-best six assists against no turnovers and grabbed six rebounds against Shaw (1-8).
“They’re as athletic as a team as you’ll play,” BU Coach Scott Davenport said. “They’ve won one game but have lost like seven games by 15 points. They’ve played four ranked opponents including us, so I was proud of our team.”
Center Yasin Kolo had a quiet first half but was instrumental in a second half in which the Knights quickly built a double-digit lead that ballooned to 20. Kolo hit 4-of-5 shots and scored all 11 of his points after the intermission while recording seven rebounds. Senior forward George Suggs and junior forward Josh Derksen chipped in nine points apiece.
Troutman opened the scoring with a 3-pointer and junior guard Al Davis added another as Bellarmine shot out to a 10-2 lead. However, after the hot start, the Knights struggled from the floor and the Bears took advantage by taking a 21-16 lead with 7:04 left in the first half.
Bellarmine regained its footing to post a 10-2 run for a 26-23 halftime lead, with Troutman’s layup from Derksen ultimately giving the Knights a lead they would never relinquish.
Bellarmine’s defense was unyielding to close the first half and to open the second half. Over a roughly 13-minute span, the Knights allowed a single basket and outscored the Bears 23-2 during that timeframe.
Things started out well for Bellarmine in the second half as Davis spotted Troutman for a 3-pointer with one of his five assists, and they only got better from there for the Knights. Derksen knocked down a 3-pointer and had a transition layup off a feed from Troutman.
When Suggs drilled a 3-pointer, Bellarmine led 37-23 after five minutes passed in the second half. Derksen fired to Kolo for a slam dunk and the Knights were rolling. They led by 18 on a basket by freshman forward Adam Eberhard and 20 when Kolo canned a 3-pointer.
After a rough first half of shooting, Bellarmine shot 53.8 percent (14 of 26) after the break, including 50 percent (5 of 10) from 3-point range. The Knights sank 11 of their 12 free throws for a 91.7 percent clip in the second half.
Bellarmine was exceptional from the charity stripe in the game, sinking 18-of-21 attempts while Shaw hit only 9-of-18 opportunities. David Madol stood out for the Bears, notching 16 points while hitting four 3-pointers.
Bellarmine enters an extended break from play. The Knights are off until they host Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 2.
As far as the focus in practice in between games spread so far apart, Davenport said: “You have to love basketball and you have to embrace getting better.”
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