#2 BELLARMINE VS #3 FGCU: ASUN QUARTERFINAL RECAP

Louisville, KY- #3 FGCU (21-11) sees their season come to an end, losing 81-68, in the ASUN Quarterfinals, to #2 Bellarmine University (18-13).

Stats:

FGCU shot 45.5% (25/55) from the field, 39.1% (9/23) from beyond the arc, and outrebounded Bellarmine 37-21. The Eagles dished out 9 assists, had 4 steals, and 3 blocks in the game. FGCU forced 6 Knights team turnovers, while having 14 team turnovers of their own.

Outstanding Players (FGCU):

Tavian Dunn-Martin 27 pts, 4 asts

Austin Richie 13 pts, 4 reb

Kevin Samuel 10 pts, 10 reb

Outstanding Players (BU):

CJ Fleming 19 pts, 2 reb

Dylan Penn 17 pts, 10 asts

Ethan Claycomb 16 pts, 4 reb

Overview:

#3 FGCU led this game by 3, 38-35 at the half, but #2 Bellarmine came out swinging to start the 2nd half, and courtesy of a 12-2 run, took a 47-40 lead vs the Eagles. Head Coach Scott Davenport’s team played strong defense, and FGCU couldn’t shoot the way they shot in the 2nd half. Bellarmine shot 55.2% (32/58) from the field, and 45.2% (14/31) from beyond the arc.

All five of Bellarmine’s starters scored in double figures in the game. CJ Fleming led the Knights with 19 points, and Dylan Penn finished with a double double of 17 points, and 10 assists. Tavian Dunn-Martin scored a game high 27 points to lead the Eagles offensively. Bellarmine was carving up the zone defense Coach Fly was using, and the Knights while they were outrebounded by plenty, played their brand of basketball in the second half of this game. It’s frustrating to see a team that won eight of their last nine ASUN Conference games, including beating Liberty on the road, lose the way they did Thursday night. The Eagles could not defend the Bellarmine bigs from beyond the arc, as Claycomb, Hopf, and DeVault combined to shoot 44% (8/18) from beyond the arc. Dylan Penn had his way driving to the bucket, and would not be denied in the game. #2 Bellarmine University faces #1 Liberty University in the ASUN Semifinals, so they should give the Flames a strong test, after Liberty survived Lipscomb University in the ASUN Quarterfinals.