JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven men's basketball team begins its 2016-17 campaign Wednesday evening, hosting Riverside Drive rival Millsaps College inside Rugg Arena at 8 p.m.
The Blazers dropped a hard-fought contest last season against the Majors, falling 72-64 on Nov. 24. That game was the first meeting between the rival schools since 2009.
Playing in its first season of NCAA Division III competition last season, Belhaven tallied a 2-23 overall mark, recording wins over American Southwest Conference opponents Mary Hardin-Baylor and McMurry.
The Blazers 2016-17 roster features eight returners and 12 newcomers. The Green and Gold has added some good size to the roster this season. Belhaven didn't have a player listed over 6-5 last season, but will have four this year in
Brandon Pressley (6-6),
Terik Richardson (6-7),
Johnny Pittman (6-8) and
Gian Van Heeringen (6-9).
Belhaven's lone senior,
DJ Young-Beasley, was selected to the 2016-17 ASC Preseason Watch List. Young-Beasley was second on the team last season in made three-pointers, knocking down 27 shots from downtown while also ranking third on the Blazers in total blocks (10) and fourth in rebounds (54).
Other key returners include junior
Dyron Anderson and sophomore
David Simpson. Anderson led the Blazers in three-point accuracy (.350) and steals (30) last season while averaging 6.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Simpson made 13 starts and drained 17 three-pointers last season.
Millsaps finished 5-21 and 4-10 in SAA conference play in 2015-16. Millsaps Coach Timothy Wise enters his 14th season with the Majors.
The Majors 2016-17 roster also features plenty of fresh faces, with nine of its 16 players being freshman. Guards Trent Markwith and Brennan Gagen are the top Millsaps returners. Markwith averaged 6.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while Gagen recorded a team-high .424 three-point percentage and added 5.8 points per game.
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