Box Score
MONTGOMERY, Ala.-The Belhaven men's basketball team rallied from a nine point second half deficit and pulled out a 63-59 Southern States Athletic Conference victory at Auburn University-Montgomery Saturday afternoon. The win
extended the Blazers winning streak to seven in a row and also kept the team on top by a game in the SSAC West Division standings over the University of Mobile.

Auburn-Montgomery jumped out in front early and maintained a slight edge until the midway point of the first half. Belhaven drifted no further than four points behind and grabbed its first edge on a tip-in by senior forward Daryl Arnold with 8:45 to go in the half. The game seesawed back and forth until late in the period when the Warhawks used a 7-2 run to take a 31-28 halftime lead.

AUM continued its offensive prowess in the opening minutes of the second half, opening up a nine point lead at 41-32 with 16:19 to play. Marquis Brooks drilled a triple to cap a 10-3 scoring spurt which garnered the Warkhawks their largest lead of the contest. The Blazers then picked it up and began to chip away at the deficit during the next eight minutes of action. Senior guard Woodie Howard had the equalizer, finding his mark from long distance, evening the score at 45-45. Then a free throw by Arnold put the Blazers back on top for the first time in the second half 46-45 with 8:01 to go.

Both teams exchanged baskets during the next six minutes with neither side able to build a lead greater than three points during that stretch. With Auburn-Montgomery leading 53-50, Howard sent in another triple, which tied the game for the 10th time, and then he dropped in two points on a layup to give Belhaven a 55-53 lead. Auburn-Montgomery's Michael Lee knotted the score for the 11th time at 55-55 on a jumper with 2:17 to go. However, Arnold had an answer for Belhaven connecting on a jumper that sent the Blazers back on top to stay, 57-55. Four key free throws by junior guard Jordan Butts and a layup by junior forward Andrew Marshall kept AUM at bay during the final seconds and secured the 63-59 victory for the Blazers.

Belhaven (13-11, 8-5 SSAC) was led by Arnold who poured in a game high 25 points. Arnold also recorded a team best eight rebounds and four steals. Howard followed Arnold with 19 points and went 7 of 12 from the field. As a team, Belhaven struggled from the field knocking down only 37 percent of its shots (20 for 54). However, the Blazers made up for it with 14 second chance points off 12 offensive rebounds while producing 25 points thanks to 19 AUM turnovers. Both teams ended the game with 31 rebounds.

Auburn-Montgomery (5-18, 2-11 SSAC) was paced by Trey Geter who scored 18 points followed by Michael Lee with 11 points and 11 rebounds en route to a double double. Marquez Brooks chipped in 14 points and a game high five assists. The Warhawks made good on 47.4 percent of their field goals (18 for 38), but hurt themselves in the turnover department.

Belhaven will be back in action on Thursday night, hosting the University of Mobile in a battle for first place in the SSAC West Division. The Blazers edged the Rams 73-69 in the first meeting of the season on January 14th. Thursday night's tip-off in Rugg Arena is slated for 7:30 PM.