Box score
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- Missed free throws loomed large in a 61-54 setback at Bellarmine in Great Lakes Valley Conference play Thursday night. The Greyhounds made 15-of-23 freebies, including multiple misses down the stretch to let the host Knights off the hook in a toughly-contested league game.
The Greyhounds got out to a nine-point lead in the opening half, holding an 18-9 advantage midway through. Reed Ludlow's dunk put the exclamation point on a 7-0 spurt. Later in the half, Bellarmine strung together 11 straight points to take a brief two-point margin.
The lead changed hands several times before BU took a 31-30 cushion into halftime. BU held the Hounds without a field goal for nearly six minutes to run up a nine-point lead at 53-44. Back to back jumpers by DeAndre Brock and Myron Jackson helped narrow the gap to five. With 1:57 remaining, UIndy missed out on an opportunity to keep it close, but a usually solid free throw-shooting Brock missed on a pair from the line.
Knights' big man Dzaflo Larkai returned the favor with a couple free throw misses seconds later, but a missed Greyhound three and a layup by Adam Brames helped BU regain a nine-point advantage. Tyke Cockerham made a layup and was fouled to give him a chance to get it to two possessions with 44 seconds left, but another miss from the charity stripe all but sealed it for the home team.
Brock led all scorers with 21 points, but made just one from long range in nine tries as the Hounds hit on just 3-of-19 from deep in the contest. Ludlow gathered eight rebounds and two steals in his fifth start of the season.
The Greyhounds will travel to Highland Heights, Ky. to put an end to a brutal five-game road trip Saturday. The Hounds and Norse will play the final game at NKU's home gym, Regents Hall, in a 7:00 p.m. tip.
