JACKSON, Miss. - Belhaven men's basketball returns to the hardwood this Thursday, Jan. 26, traveling to Richardson, Texas to face the University of Texas at Dallas at 7:30 p.m. The Blazers wrap up the road trip on Saturday, Jan. 28, when they take on the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark. at 3 p.m.
Belhaven (2-15) dropped three games last week, falling to Rust in overtime in its final non-ASC game of the season, before falling to ASC foes LeTourneau and Texas-Tyler. The Blazers nearly pulled off the upset of Texas-Tyler by forcing the Patriots into 24 turnovers, but came up just short in the end, 75-73.
Junior forward Brandon Pressely recorded three double-doubles last week, bringing his season total to seven. Pressley averaged 16.7 points and 12.3 rebounds and scored 18 points in back-to-back contests versus LeTourneau and Texas-Tyler. Pressley currently leads the ASC in field goal percentage (.644) and ranks second in rebounding (8.6).
The Blazers will bee looking to break a 12-game losing streak on Thursday when they take on Texas Dallas. Of those 12 defeats, seven of them have been by single digits and four have been by five points or less.
Belhaven continues to be one of the top three-point shooting teams in the conference, ranking fifth in three-pointers made per game (8.9). The Blazers also rank fifth in assists per game (16.1).
University of Texas at Dallas
Texas Dallas (5-13) has won two games in a row and four of its last nine after starting the season 1-8. The Comets have yet to win a game this season away from home, but are 5-5 in contests at their home facilty.
Texas Dallas ranks fourth in the conference in assist to turnover ratio (1.2) and fifth in turnover margin (+0.44), turning the ball over just 12.7 times per game.
Junior guard Caleb Banks leads the Comets with 13.5 points per game and leads the entire conference in assists, dishing out 6.9 per game. Senior forward Kyle Coulter has added 12.8 points per contest and ranks third in the ASC in three-point percentage (.449).
The Comets took both contest versus the Blazers last season, winning 87-75 in Jackson on Jan. 28 before picking up an 86-78 victory in Richardson on Feb. 6
University of the Ozarks
The Ozarks (6-11) began the season with four straight victories, but have since dropped 11 of 13 games. The Eagles are currently on a four-game losing streak and will face Haskell University on Wednesday before hosting Belhaven on Saturday. The Ozarks are 4-5 at home this season.
The Ozarks feature a high-octane offense, ranking second in the ASC in points per game (88.4) and have scored at least 100 points in six games this season. The Eagles also rank fifth in the conference in field goal percentage (.463) and three-point percentage (.357).
Senior forward Josh Berard leads all ASC players in scoring, pouring in 24.3 points per game. Berard has totaled seven games with at least 30 points this season. Junior guard Jace Richardson has added 19.2 points per game while junior forward Dylan Gray is averaging 16.2 points and 8.6 rebounds.
The Ozarks defeated Belhaven in two close contests last season, 80-79 in Jackson on Jan. 30 and 88-84 in Clarksville on Feb. 4.
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