Box Score
New Orleans, LA-In a low scoring defensive battle at Dillard University, the Belhaven men's basketball team came away with a 58-51 win over the Blue Devils in a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference matchup Saturday night in New Orleans. The win avenges a 78-73 loss to Dillard back on January 22nd. The Blazers have won four of their last six games to improve to 13-9 overall and 5-6 in the GCAC. Dillard now stands at 9-12 and 6-5 in league play.

 

Dillard opened up the scoring about a minute into the first half on a basket by David Manning giving the Blue Devils an early 2-0 lead. Belhaven then went on a mini 4-0 run during the net few seconds to take their first advantage in the opening half. Krayleon Winston hit a field goal off an assist by Korey Whiting to put the Blazers on top 4-2. Dillard's David Manning responded by drilling a three and quickly the Blue Devils regained control at 5-4.

                                   

With just under 12 minutes to go in the first half, Belhaven established a five point lead at 13-8 on a pair of free throws by Whiting. It didn't last long as Dillard then put together a 10-0 run to take a five point advantage of their own at 18-13 with 8:57 to play until halftime. The Blazers then began to chip away at the five point deficit moving past the Blue Devils on a basket by Nathaniel Roche' which made the score 19-18 with 4:26 left on the first half clock.

 

The Blazers did not stop there and grew the lead to six as the first half buzzer sounded with Belhaven on top 26-20. The Blazers outscored Dillard 13-2 over the final 4:22 of the first half and that could very well have been the boost the Blazers needed going onto the locker room. Iman Walcott closed out the half with a couple of free throws after being fouled by Cornice Wingate with 43 second remaining in the opening half.

 

The Blazers held Dillard to 26.9 percent shooting from the field through the first 20 minutes of action. Belhaven also outrebounded the Blue Devils 19-14 with each team committing 10 turnovers.

 

The second half was also tightly contested but Belhaven found a way to hang on for the victory. The Blazers ended up outscoring Dillard 32-31 in the final 20 minutes of play as both offenses picked up in the second half. Belhaven made 45.8 percent of their second half field goals compared to the first half when they converted 38.1 percent of their attempts from the field. The Blazers finished with game with a team shooting percentage of 42.2. Belhaven also had a big edge in rebounding with a 39-27 advantage in total boards.

 

Iman Walcott and Korey Whiting paced the Blazers offensive attack with 12 points a piece. Nathaniel Roche' recorded his third double double of the season with 11 points and a game high11 rebounds since joining the team at the beginning of January. Roche' has provided even more of an inside presence for the Blazers which should pay off for them heading into the final stretch of regular season games.

The Blue Devils were led by David Manning with 15 points followed by Autrail Manning and Avry Ingram with 10 points a piece. Dillard made 32.1 percent of their total field goals while converting just 57.9 percent of their free throw opportunities.