Box Score
ROME, Ga.-The Belhaven men's basketball team gave the fourth ranked team in the country all it could handle Friday night, but the Blazers couldn't pull off the upset losing at Shorter University 73-61 in Southern States Athletic Conference action. Belhaven led for the majority of the first half and into the second, but the Hawks made a strong push midway through the final period to claim the victory. The loss snapped a three game winning streak for the Blazers.

Belhaven broke the ice with the first five points of the game on a field goal and free throw by senior Brittion Smith while junior Andrew Marshall was credited with the first two points in the game. The Blazers eventually built a nine point lead at 16-7 after senior Woodie Howard sunk two free throws with 14:28 left in the first half. Shorter then went on a 12-3 run to tie the game at 19-19 with just over nine minutes to go until the break. It was the only instance in the first half where the Blazers didn't at least have a one point edge. It didn't take Howard and the Blazers long to break the tie as the senior guard hoisted in a field goal with 8:58 to go in the half. Belhaven would end up taking a 37-36 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

Five minutes into the second half, Shorter evened the score again at 43-43 on a pair of Anthony Banks free throws. After a brief two point Hawks lead, sophomore Chris Cofield connected on a field goal to knot the game at 50-50 with 11:34 to go for what turned out to be the final tie of the night. Following a two minute scoring drought for both teams, Kenny Leverette sent the Hawks out in front for good with a basket at the 9:45 mark. Shorter went up by 58-51 and then Belhaven used an 8-2 to pull back within one at 60-59 with 5:53 remaining in the second half. Unfortunately, the Blazers would get no closer the rest of the way. Trailing 65-61 with 1:48 left, Belhaven found itself within two possessions, but the Hawks closed out the game with an 8-0 run to secure the win.

Belhaven (6-10, 1-4 SSAC) was led by Howard with 17 points followed by Marshall with 11 points. Cofield came up with 10 points to round out the Blazer double digit scorers. Howard also ended the night as the games leading rebounder with eight boards. The Blazers shot 42.4 percent from the field (25-59), but hurt themselves with turnovers committing 23 miscues in the game. Belhaven outrebounded Shorter 39-34.

Shorter (14-0, 5-0 SSAC) remained unbeaten on the season thanks to four players who scored at least 12 points in the game. Walter Hill led the way with 17 followed by C.J. Davis with 13. Johnathan Crawford and Banks cashed in 12 points apiece. Crawford and Leverette were the Hawks leading rebounders with six apiece. Shorter made 43.1 percent of its field goals (25-58) and committed 17 turnovers.

Belhaven now heads to Lee University Saturday afternoon for another SSAC contest slated for 2:00 PM Central Time.