By GREG MENGELT

LOUISVILLE — After an 0-5 start, Bellarmine won for the fifth time in six games, 89-39 over visiting Midway (Ky.) on Friday evening at Freedom Hall.

After valuing behind 8-7 early, freshman forward Curt Hopf (Montgomery/Barr-Reeeve) made a layup that gave the Knights the lead for good and kickstarted a 38-9 run that gave Bellarmine (5-6) a 45-17 lead at the break.

The Knights then scored 15 of the first 19 points in the second half. Senior guard Dylan Penn (Evansville/Memorial) made a layup with 13:48 to go that put Bellarmine ahead 60-21 against its NAIA opponent.

Ten different Knights scored in the win, including former Providence star Juston Betz, who finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in the win. Senior forward Ethan Claycomb (Vincennes) had a team-best 12 points, Penn finished with 11 points and 9 assists and Hopf contributed 10 points and 8 boards to the victory.

Midway (6-5), which is a member of the River States Conference with IU Southeast, got 11 points from sophomore guard Donnie Miller (Newport, Ky.). Eastern graduate Ridge Hill scored 2 points and Seymour graduate Alex Hofer went scoreless in 6 minutes off the Eagle bench.

The Knights’ bench outscored Midway’s 38-9. Bellarmine held the Eagles to 15 of 55 shooting (27.3 percent) and forced 20 turnovers.

“As much as I believe in offense, this team has taken basketball to a different level, taking unselfishness on offense to playing unselfish defense,” Bellarmine head coach Scott Davenport said.

Bellarmine goes to South Dakota on Wednesday. The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. tipoff.