JACKSON, Miss. - After more than a week off from game action, the Belhaven men's basketball team returns to the hardwood on Thursday, traveling to Austin, Texas to begin American Southwest Conference (ASC) play versus Concordia Texas. The Blazers continue their Texas road swing on Saturday, when they face off versus ASC opponent Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. Both contests are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. 

Belhaven (1-1) is coming off of a 123-111 loss at Rhodes College Wednesday, Nov. 23 after earning an 85-76 home victory over rival Millsaps College on Nov. 16 to open the season. The Blazers lead the ASC in assists per game (27.0) and rank second in field goal percentage (.519),  third in points per game (98.0) and fourth in rebounding margin (+3.5).

Six different Blazers are averaging at least 11 points per game, with Dyron Anderson's 17 per contest leading the way. Brandon Pressley has contributed 16.5 points and 11 rebounds per game while Ron Davis has poured in 15 points and a conference-leading 9.5 assists. 

Concordia (4-2) enters Thursday's game winners of two straight contests, including a 110-93 victory over ASC foe Texas Dallas. The Tornadoes have also picked up wins over Huston-Tillotson, Southwestern and North Carolina Wesleyan while dropping games to Virginia Wesleyan and East Texas Baptist. 

Concordia ranks second in the conference in both steals per game (11.5) and turnover margin (+4.83) while pouring in 94.3 points per game. Sophomore guard Joe Neal is averaging a team-high 19.3 points while shooting .583 from the floor. Ephriam Price is chipping in 15.8 points on .452 three-point shooting off the bench. 

Mary Hardin-Baylor (2-3) is coming off of a 104-92 loss at the University of the Ozarks on Tuesday. The Crusaders have also dropped games to Schreiner and Texas Lutheran while earning victories over Southwestern and Trinity University. 

The Crusaders are one of the top sharpshooting teams in the ASC, ranking third in the conference in both three-point percentage (.390) and three-point field goals made per game (10.6). UMHB boasts three players with scoring averages of at least 18 per game, led by by sophomore guard Demarius Cress' 19.4 average. Cress poured in 34 points in the Crusaders most recent contest. 

Belhaven picked up a 96-88, double-overtime win over Mary Hardin-Baylor last season while falling to Concordia 90-79. 

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