Karasinski’s 31 points lift Bellarmine past Jacksonville 82-79 in Atlantic Sun tournament opener

Bellarmine advances after late breakdowns decide a three-point game in Jacksonville

Bellarmine opened the Atlantic Sun Conference men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with an 82-79 win over Jacksonville in a first-round matchup played in Jacksonville, Florida. The result moved Bellarmine forward in the league’s postseason bracket after a game that swung on second-half shot-making and a decisive late possession.

Guard Jack Karasinski led the Knights with 31 points, adding five rebounds. Bellarmine also received 15 points and seven rebounds from Brian Waddell, while Tyler Doyle scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. The win ended a five-game losing streak for the Knights entering the tournament.

Jacksonville was paced by Hayden Wood, who finished with 23 points and six rebounds. Chris Lockett Jr. added 22 points, and Jaylen Jones contributed 14 points along with seven assists and two steals.

How the game turned

The scoring split underscored the shifting control of the contest. Bellarmine built its advantage early, outscoring Jacksonville 47-32 in the first half. Jacksonville responded after the break with a 47-point second half, narrowing the margin to one possession in the final minute.

Karasinski’s production carried into the closing stretch; he scored 16 of his 31 points in the second half. Jacksonville’s rally set up a final sequence defined by defensive confusion, when Waddell was left uncovered near the rim and converted a dunk with 14.3 seconds remaining, giving Bellarmine the points it needed to preserve the win.

In a one-possession finish, a late defensive lapse created the decisive basket and forced Jacksonville into a final, pressured response.

What it means in the tournament context

The matchup came between teams that finished the regular season with identical conference records. Bellarmine entered the game 13-18 overall and 7-11 in league play, while Jacksonville came in 12-20 overall and 7-11 in conference play.

• Bellarmine advanced by combining first-half separation with enough late execution to withstand a second-half surge.
• Jacksonville’s 47-point second half showed offensive efficiency after halftime, but the late breakdown at the rim proved costly.
• Key contributors were concentrated among starters and primary ball-handlers on both sides, with Karasinski and Wood leading the scoring.

The result placed Bellarmine into the next round of the Atlantic Sun bracket, while Jacksonville’s season concluded with a narrow postseason loss decided in the final seconds.