By GREG MENGELT

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Bellarmine outscored host Florida Gulf Coast 30-17 over the final 9 minutes to score another big Atlantic Sun Conference victory on Saturday at Alico Arena.

The Knights, who led 31-30 at halftime, took the lead for good on senior guard CJ Fleming’s 3-points with 8:53 remaining. Senior guard Dylan Penn then scored six straight Bellarmine points to put the Knights ahead 55-49 with 5:20 remaining.

Fleming, who led Bellarmine with 23 points, hit another big 3 and two free throws down the stretch to help the Knights win for the seventh time in their last eight games. Penn had another big game with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Former Providence star Juston Betz, who is also a senior, was scoreless but was a major factor in the victory. He led the Knights with 10 assists and with nine rebounds. He also had two steals for Bellarmine (13-9, 7-1 A-Sun), which is a game behind Jacksonville State in the A-Sun West standings.

The Knights have another big A-Sun contest Thursday against defending league champion Liberty. The Flames 14-7 and suffered their first conference loss of the season Saturday, 77-67 to Jacksonville State.

Senior guard Tavian Dunn-Martin led the Eagles with 24 points and three assists. FGCU is now 13-9 overall and 3-5 in league play.