LOUISVILLE, Ky. – IU Southeast led by as many as nine points in the second half but NCAA Div. II No. 3 Bellarmine University roared back in the and hit their free throws down the stretch to edge the Grenadiers 84-82 on Wednesday.

Kerry Smith had a game-high 22 points tying a career high, including 17 in the first half on 7-of-7 shooting from the field. Joe Jackson had 16 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, Jamie Johnson had 14 points and Demetrius Stanton had 12, including 10 in the second half for the Grenadiers.

After Jamie Johnson completed a three-point play to give IU Southeast a 37-28 lead with 3:49 left in the first half, Bellarmine responded with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to two. IU Southeast led 43-38 at halftime.

Jamie Johnson and Cody Young opened the second half with back-to-back three-point field goals to give the Grenadiers a 49-40 led but Bellarmine answered with a 16-7 run to tie the game.

The game would be played within a five-point cushion the rest of the way. When it appeared Bellarmine was going to seal the game both Demetrius Stanton and Lukas Burkman hit big shots to keep IU Southeast in the contest, including a three from Burkman with 1:02 to play to tie the game at 77.

Bellarmine (3-0 ) won the game at the free throw line, hitting 14-of-17 second-half free throws and IU Southeast hit just 4-of-9.

IU Southeast (4-2) travels to Campbellsville to take on Lindsey Wilson College and Campbellsville University this weekend.