Box Score
MOBILE, Ala. - The Belhaven men's basketball team kept its hopes alive for a spot in the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament, thanks to a 67-53 SSAC win at the University of Mobile Thursday night. The Blazers moved into fifth place in the West Division standings, a half game in front of the Rams. Thursday's victory was also the second consecutive conference win after Belhaven snapped a six game losing streak last Saturday against Auburn University-Montgomery.

Belhaven (11-16, 7-8 SSAC) set the tone early, opening the game with a 12-3 run. Junior guard Chris Cofield kick started the offense on a layup one minute into the contest to commence the opening surge. Junior forward Curt Hall capped the scoring burst at the 16:29 mark with two more points in the paint.

Mobile (14-12, 7-9 SSAC) rallied to take the lead at 22-21 with just over six minutes left in the first half after Cole found the bottom of the net on a point blank shot in the paint. Junior forward Luke Rogers quickly put the Blazers back in front 24-22 with three of his 16 points. The two teams traded baskets over the next five possessions as the scoreboard revealed three ties and a pair of brief leads by Belhaven during a four minute span.

With the game tied at 29-29 and 2:28 left in the first half, sophomore guard Jerrial Dawson hit the shot of the night, burying a triple that gave the Blazers a lead they would never relinquish. Belhaven wrapped up the opening 20 minutes with a 37-33 edge and held the momentum going into the locker room.

Mobile stayed within striking distance early in the second half and only trailed by three points at 45-42 with 10:52 to play after Julien Sargent sunk a field goal. However, it would prove to be Belhaven's night as the Blazers outscored the Rams 15-6 over the next eight minutes, resulting in a 60-48 lead with three minutes left. The Blazers strong finish kept them in front by at least 10 points during the final stretch, ultimately ending in the 67-53 win.

The Blazers were led by senior guard Jordan Butts who had a game high 19 points. Rogers fired in a season and career high 16 points followed by Cofield who chipped in 13 points and a team high five assists. Hall and sophomore guard Datodrick Pinkston pulled down a team best six rebounds.

Belhaven shot 47.1% from the field (24-51) and drilled 50% of their triples (7-14). All seven of them came in the first half. The Blazers also turned in their best performance of the season at the free throw line, converting on 92.3% of their attempts (12-13).

Cole Fountain paced Mobile with 11 points off the bench trailed by Chris Richardson with 10 points. Kwame Beard tallied six points and a team best five rebounds. The Rams made 44.2% of their field goals (23-52), but were cold from behind the arc connecting on just 16.7% of their long range jumpers (3-18). Mobile had a slight 30-28 edge in total rebounds.

Belhaven will return home on Saturday to face SSAC rival William Carey University in Rugg Arena beginning at 4:00 PM.