JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven Men's Basketball team opened up the ASC era with a thrilling 96-88 double-overtime victory over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Thursday night.
 
Belhaven fell behind by as much as nine in the first half, but closed the gap to just three points at the halftime break.
 
The Crusaders led for most of the second half, but a Dyron Anderson layup tied the game with 21 seconds remaining and forced overtime in Belhaven's home opener.
 
Belhaven fell behind again in the overtime, but managed to avoid defeat by erasing a three-point deficit with a dunk by De'la Mayers and a free throw from Josh Carpenter over the final 23 seconds to force a second overtime.
 
The Blazers took control in the second overtime, large in-part to three jumpers from Carpenter and a dunk from Josh Gaskin that all but sealed the victory for the Blazers over the previously unbeaten Crusaders.
 
Carpenter finished with 22 points in 34 minutes of action on the night. He also had five rebounds and two blocks to go along with an assist.
 
Dyron Anderson followed up a 14-point debut in the Blazers' last game with 17 points Thursday. Anderson also had seven rebounds, three steals and an assist.
 
Gaskin had a big night for Belhaven. The senior swatted away four blocks to lead Belhaven on the night. The Blazers finished with nine blocks total in the contest. Gaskin also finished with a double-double, recording 15 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Mayers also had a double-double in the game, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Like Carpenter, Mayers had two blocks in the game.
 
LaDarrius Drain and DaJuan Young also finished in double figures, each collecting 10 points in the game.
 
Belhaven finished the night shooting 39.8 percent from the floor, despite going 20.7 percent from behind the arc.
 
The Blazers dominated inside with 46 points in the paint and 25 second-chance points. Belhaven also had 32 points off turnovers.
 
The Blazers will return to action on Saturday with a scheduled 3 p.m. tip against Concordia University Texas in Rugg Arena. The match will follow the women's contest in a doubleheader.