INDIANAPOLIS - INDIANAPOLIS – The 100th edition of the UIndy-Bellarmine saga proved to be yet again another thriller, as the Greyhounds (12-6, 6-4 GLVC) knocked off No. 5 Bellarmine (17-2, 8-2 GLVC), 76-68, on Thursday night in Nicoson Hall. 
 
The Hounds led for the final 31 minutes, including a 10-point advantage at halftime, but the Knights rallied to get within three with only 94 ticks on the clock. UIndy sunk its final six free throws to seal the win, its first victory over a top-five team since January 15, 2015. UIndy is now 3-3 in its last six games against ranked opponents.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The fifth-ranked Knights wasted no time on Ray Skillman Court, scoring the first five points of the game in a 49-second span. A season-long strength continued for the Greyhounds, drilling their first shots from deep and five of their first six attempts to grab a 17-16 lead midway through the first half.
 
Dixon laid in two of his 17 points at the 11:12 mark of the opening session to give UIndy its final lead, as it would hold on for the final 31+ minutes. The Greyhounds grew their lead to 10 by halftime, thanks to strong play by Dixon and Roderick Davis inside, as the team was without Jesse Kempson. Ajay Lawton and Tate Hall combined to score the final nine points of the half for the Hounds, as the hosts led at the intermission, 38-28.
 
Similarly to the first half, Bellarmine came out hot to start the final 20 minutes, scoring the first seven points over the first two-plus minutes. One of Lawton's three steals halted a Knights' rally, leading to a jumper by CJ Hardaway Jr. as the lead climbed back to double digits. The teams flirted with similar runs throughout the half, with the Hounds reaching 12 with just 6:52 remaining.
 
Bellarmine's Brent Bach hit a pair of three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to get the visitors within three, and 12-straight points for the Knights, but the Hounds sunk each of their final six free throws to seal the victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Devin Dixon scored a team-high 17 points and pulled down six rebounds in the win, the sixth time he has scored double figures this season. It is the senior's second time he has led the team in scoring, and the first time since the team's overtime loss at Lewis.
 
Ajay Lawton dished out eight assists on the night and now has 29 dimes over the past four games. The senior has been a major contributor since returning from injury, averaging 13.1 ppg and 5.1 apg the past seven contests. The Hounds are 5-2 since his return, and 9-3 overall with the Westfield native in the lineup.
 
Eric Davidson hit three-straight from beyond the arc in the first half, leading all scorers at the break with 11 points. The senior finished with 15 points and is now just 41 away from becoming the 40th Greyhound to score 1,000 points in his career.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds travel to Illinois-Springfield for a Saturday tilt against the Prairie Stars. Tip is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET. Illinois-Springfield (12-7, 4-5 GLVC) suffered a setback on Thursday night, falling to Drury, 80-60.
 
The Hounds have never lost to the Prairie Stars, defeating the latter in all eight contests between the teams.