LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In their first contest following the Thanksgiving break, the Franklin College men's basketball team traveled to Freedom Hall for a scheduled exhibition contest against NCAA Division I opponent Bellarmine.

Facing off against a Division I opponent for the first time since 2014, the Grizzlies played the Knights tight in the early going before a lengthy Bellarmine run to close out the first half paved the way for a 75-37 Knights victory.

The Grizzlies took the game's first lead and held an early 6-2 advantage on threes from Ty Wright and TJ Deere. Bellarmine would take the lead before the first media timeout, but Franklin would get within 23-19 with eight minutes to go in the opening half when Deere knocked down threes on back-to-back possessions. The rest of the half was all Knights, with Bellarmine closing out the opening 20 on an 18-2 run.

The second half saw both sides empty the benches with each team getting valuable minutes to all members of the roster.

Deere led the way in scoring for Franklin with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from long range. Ten different Grizzlies recorded buckets in the game with Cody Samples, Logan Hudgins and Reece Sherrill recording their first career points. Sherrill was one of two Grizzlies to make their career debuts, with Hunter Bruce also making his first appearance in the blue and gold.

Up next for the Grizzlies is their third straight trip to Kentucky, which comes on Wednesday (Dec. 1) night in their Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) opener against the Transylvania Pioneers. Tip-off from the Beck Center is set for 7:30 p.m.