Box Score
Tougaloo, MS-The Belhaven men's basketball team lost for the second time in as many games falling to cross town rival Tougaloo College 89-83 in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference action Saturday night. The Blazers had a great effort from Tensley Cowan who scored a season best 21 points, but it still wasn't quite enough to overcome the Bulldogs.

The first half started slow for both teams as over three minutes ticked off the clock before the first basket for either team was scored. Tougaloo's Juan Gray broke the scoreless tie at the 16:44 mark of the first half with a field goal off an assist from Mario Luckett. A.J. Taylor committed a foul and Gray converted an old fashion three point play to make it 3-0 Bulldogs.

The teams traded baskets over the next five minutes and with 11:20 to play until halftime Krayleon Winston tied the game for the fourth time at 14-14 on a field goal that kicked started a 16-5 run by the Blazers. The scoring spurt was capped off by a Larell Bailey triple with 7:05 left in the first period giving Belhaven a 28-19 advantage.

It would prove to be the biggest lead of the night for the Blazers and it didn't take long for Tougaloo (16-3, 7-2 GCAC) to strike back and regain the edge. The Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run and jumped back in front 29-28 on James Carter's field goal with 4:36 showing on the first half clock. Belhaven (17-4, 7-2 GCAC) managed to knot the score at 33 all with just under four minutes to go in the opening frame, but the Bulldogs reeled off the final five points of the half and took a 38-33 edge into the locker room at halftime.

The second half began much like the first as neither the Blazers nor the Bulldogs could establish a sizeable lead. Belhaven got back to within one at 54-53 after a basket by Cowan, but Tougaloo quickly pushed the spread out to seven points with an 8-2 run. With the Bulldogs holding a 62-55 edge, the Blazers ripped off seven straight points to even things at 62-62 with just over nine minutes to go in the contest.

However, the turning point in the game came shortly thereafter as the Bulldogs seized the momentum with a 15-2 run that for all intensive purposes put the game out of reach. The result was a 77-64 lead for Tougaloo with only 4:36 left in the game. The Blazers clawed back to within five points of the Bulldogs four different times final minutes, but could get no closer the rest of the way as Tougaloo held on for the win.

Belhaven was led by Cowan who had a career high 21 points to go along with six rebounds. Woodie Howard had a solid night as well tossing in 17 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field. Larell Bailey rounded out the double digit scorers for Belhaven adding 11 points in 28 minutes of work. A.J. Taylor was the Blazers leading rebounder on Saturday night with a game high 10 boards.

As a team, Belhaven hit 48.5 percent of their field goals, 22.7 percent of their shots from beyond the arc, and converted 63.2 percent of their opportunities from the charity stripe. The Blazers outrebounded Tougaloo 38-34, but committed 22 costly turnovers.

The Bulldogs had four players score in double figures in Saturday's victory over Belhaven. Mario Luckett and Walter Howard led the way with 19 points each while Luckett and Howard contributed five and seven rebounds respectively. Deshun Carter turned in 17 points and a team high nine boards while Jejuan Jacks fired in 12 points. Tougaloo made 43.9 percent of their field goals, 30 percent of their three point shots, and had a 65.8 percent conversion rate at the free throw line.

Belhaven will try and get back on track Thursday night when they travel to LSU-Shreveport for their second meeting of the season with the Pilots. Belhaven won the first matchup against LSUS on January 14th 67-65. Thursday's tipoff is slated for 7:30 PM.