SCHENECTADY — Coach Tim Moseman made sure to schedule some challenging non-league games this season to better prepare his Berne-Knox-Westerlo basketball team. And on Tuesday night at Bishop Gibbons, the Bulldogs got plenty, if not more than it could handle.

The Golden Knights’ immediate pressure was a problem for BKW throughout the game, and so was the players’ size as Bishop Gibbons grabbed most of the rebounds and drove to the basket for high-percentage buckets. Since Bishop Gibbons was having success on the interior, it was able to make the occasional kick out for an open three-pointer.

“The pressure hurt us,” Moseman said after the 63-to-42 loss. “They had better foot speed, pushed the ball quicker, and they were really up on us more than usual.”

BKW had been more competitive in previous games against Ichabod Crane and Rensselaer, Moseman said. The Bulldogs couldn’t get into any sort of rhythm on Tuesday; the team had many turnovers and got into foul trouble.

In the second quarter, freshman Slade Pulliam put up a shot on consecutive possessions for BKW, but each shot was rejected as he fell to the floor with his hands in the air as if to say, “That’s not a foul?” With Bishop Gibbons ahead by 18 points, and nothing going its way, the Bulldogs seemed flustered.

“We need to execute better on offense,” said Moseman. “Gibbons had something to do with that, but I think my players were getting too caught up in the game.”

^{_{Battle on the hardwood: Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s Trevor Haack has his palm on the ball as Bishop Gibbons’s Kevan Mooney tries to grab it away during Tuesday’s game in Schenectady. The Bulldogs lost by 21 points. The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael}}

Senior Brendan Maloney, playing tall and strong at 6 feet, 5 inches, had a monster night for the Golden Knights. Most of his 24 points came on drives to the basket as BKW couldn’t figure out how to stop him. Maloney picked up a loose ball in the first quarter and slammed it home, and then sliced hard through two defenders for a nice finish in third quarter.

Niveh Sanders made a three-pointer for Bishop Gibbons as the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter, and then he made a lay-up off a decent crossover move as the final seconds of the third quarter ticked off the clock. BKW was down by 28 points.

Even though Bishop Gibbons got blown out by Schuylerville in a previous game, Moseman thinks that the team will do very well this season. “That’s why we’re playing these games,” he added. “We can’t work against that type of speed unless we play against it.”

^{_{Blocked off: The Bulldogs were outdone by the size and strength of Bishop Gibbons on Tuesday. Here, Zack Hilton runs into the defensive wall put up by Brendan Maloney, who scored a game-high 24 points for the Golden Knights, which won, 63 to 42. The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael}}

BKW’s best scorer, sophomore Zack Hilton, was held to just seven points. Moseman says that the Bulldogs have confidence even though it was a little “iffy” on Tuesday.

Having fear is no issue for BKW — the team plays hard — but it could be facing a size disadvantage more often than not this season. If the Bulldogs can be more patient on offense, then its quickness and shooting ability can work as an advantage.

“They fight and play well for young kids, so they just have to keep learning,” said Moseman. “They’re good; they need to play like they know that they’re good.”

^{_{Under pressure: Zack Hilton loses control of the ball on his way to the hoop for Berne-Knox-Westerlo on Tuesday during a loss to Bishop Gibbons. The Bulldogs start its Western Athletic Conference schedule on Friday against Mayfield. The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael}}