Box Score
Cleveland, GA-The Belhaven men's basketball team lost a tough game on the road in overtime at Truett-McConnell College Friday night by a final of 111-99. The Blazers played well in the first half and built a 48-39 at halftime only to see the Bears claw their way back into the game and eventually tie the game with 21 seconds left to play. Riding the momentum, Truett-McConnell dominated the overtime period outscoring Belhaven 20-8 in the extra frame to secure the win.

Belhaven (3-2) was led on offense by Nathaniel Roch'e who had a game high 29 points on 11 of 18 shooting from the field. Roch'e also pulled down a team high seven rebounds. Rob Wallace topped the 20 point mark for the fourth time this season with 25 points on the night. Wallace was 7 of 9 from the free throw line and had a season high nine assists in the game. Daryl Arnold was the third Blazer to reach double digits in scoring with 12 points and six rebounds. Arnold knocked down 50 percent of his field goals going 5 of 10 from the floor.

Belhaven hit 47.5 percent of their field goals (38-80), made good on 30.8 percent of their three point shots (4-13) and recorded a 54.3 shooting percentage at the free throw stripe (19-35). Arguably the difference in the game was free throw shooting and in the turnover category where the Blazers had 20 miscues as a team which led to 15 Truett-McConnell points. The Blazers did get 18 second chance points in the game off of 17 offensive rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the other factors that were stacked against them. In overall rebounding, Belhaven had big edge at 52-38 while recording 20 assists, five steals and three blocked shots.

Truett-McConnell (3-3) also had two players eclipse the 20 point mark led by Roderick Bombard with 27 points and a team high seven assists. Bombard was 10 for 22 from the field overall and 5 of 13 from three point land. George Manomano added 23 points and also drained five three point baskets in the game going five for six from behind the arc. Tulio Yamasita chipped with 18 points and a team high seven rebounds while Deric Ware was the fourth Bear to score in double figures with 11 points and six assists.

The Bears were tough to stop from the field as they connected on 51 percent of their total shots (41-80) and made 16 three point baskets in the game on 33 percent for a 48.8 percent three point shooting percentage. The only place Truett-McConnell seemed to struggle was at the free throw line where they made 13 of 23 attempts for a 56.5 percent clip. The Bears had eight blocked shots as a team, 32 total assists and 12 steals.

Belhaven had a chance to pull the game out in regulation when Wallace knocked down a jumper to make it a 91-89 game with 39 seconds left on the clock. However, Bombard came back down the floor and filled up a two point basket of his own to knot the score once again at 91-91. The Blazers had one more offensive possession in regulation and called a timeout with 14 second to go. Belhaven got the ball into the hands of Wallace and with one second left his attempt glanced off the rim sending the game into overtime where the Bears won going away 111-99.

Belhaven will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Emmanuel College for another Southern States Athletic Conference cross divisional game starting at 3:00 PM.