Box Score
Jackson, MS-The Belhaven men's basketball team didn't have any answers for a strong Texas Wesleyan University team Saturday night losing to the Rams 88-57 in Rugg Arena. Texas Wesleyan, ranked 4th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, controlled the game from the middle part of the first half to the end of the contest en route to their 11th win of the season.

Belhaven (6-5) was led by Terence Stringfellow with 10 points and the only Blazer to reach double digits in scoring. Stringfellow was 4 of 7 from the field and went two for two at the foul line leading to a season high in points. He also had 10 points in an exhibition game against NCAA Division I Mississippi State on Wednesday night. Rob Wallace and Mike Rivers followed Stringfellow with eight points each and Wallace ended up leading the Blazers on the boards with seven rebounds. Texas Wesleyan's defense kept Belhaven's leading scorers Wallace and Nathaniel Roch'e off balance the entire night which really hurt the offensive attack. Roch'e had only two points in the game and two rebounds which were both season lows.

As a team, Belhaven hit only 29.2 percent of their field goals (21-72), connected on 16.7 percent of their three point shots, and converted 70.6 percent of their free throws (12-17). The Blazers hung with the Rams on the boards by losing that battle by just a 53-46 margin. Texas Wesleyan had been outrebounding opponents by 15 boards per contest coming in which was tops in the country. Belhaven committed 19 turnovers and forced 16 miscues by Texas Wesleyan.

Texas Wesleyan (11-0) had a huge game from Bryce Hill who fired in a game high 27 points off the bench. Ty Gough recorded a double double with 15 points and 13 rebounds coming off the bench as well. Brian Wanamaker was the only starter to reach double figures with 14 points. Jeremy Smith ended the game with eight points and a game high nine assists.

The Rams shot 49.3 percent from the field (36-73), made good on 38.1 percent of their three point shots (8-21), and were also 8 of 21 at the free throw line. Texas Wesleyan also had nine blocked shots as a team in the game and 14 steals.

Belhaven led only twice during the game and both leads came early in the first half. The Blazers scored the first point of the game on a free throw by Brittion Smith at the 18:26 mark and then Smith gave Belhaven a 3-2 edge on a layup with 17:21 to play until the break. Over the next 12 minutes, the Rams took control of the game with a 28-8 run making it a 30-11 contest with 5:05 left in the first half. Texas Wesleyan eventually enjoyed a 42-24 advantage at halftime and quickly expanded it to 23 points at 54-31 with 15:47 to play. The Rams largest lead of 32 points (77-45) came with 7:45 left in the game and at that point Texas Wesleyan had a comfortable edge the rest of the way.

Belhaven will now take some time off for the Christmas Holiday and be back in action on December 30th in the Millsaps College Invitational. The Blazers will battle Mississippi College at 5:00 PM and will then play either Millsaps or Rust College December 31st.