JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven Blazers Men's Basketball team played host to the East Texas Baptist University Tigers on Saturday, and the Tigers edged out the Blazers for a 84-83 victory on the hardwood.

Both teams were firing on all cylinders in the opening minutes of the game trading baskets and leads back forth, and ultimately were tied at eight apiece with 15 minutes left in the first half. Both teams matched continued to have matching efforts scoring 13 points each once again leaving the game knotted up at 21 apiece with ten minutes remaining in the half. The second ten minutes of the first half resembled the first as both teams continued trading baskets and leads; however, the Blazers ultimately grabbed a late 46-43 lead and took it into the locker rooms at halftime.

The opening minutes of the second half continued to resemble the first half as the Tigers and Blazers continued to trade baskets, but the Blazers held a slim 51-49 lead with 15 minutes left in the game. The Tigers then went on a 24-16 scoring run, taking a 73-67 lead with just under seven minutes remaining. The Blazers responded with a 13-7 scoring run, once again tying the game at 80 apiece with just over two minutes remaining; however, the Tigers held off the Blazers in the final moments of the game to secure the 84-83 victory.

Freshman guard Luke Couch led the Blazers offensively with 18 points to go along with six rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Junior guard Josh Roberts had 17 points with four rebounds, two assists, and one steal while freshman guard Matthew McMillan had 16 points along with three rebounds and four assists, and senior guard Brosnan Cooks had a double-double with 13 points and a team high 15 rebounds, which also tied a career-high set earlier this season in a game Rhodes College, to go along with seven assists and two blocks. Senior guards Trai James and Rick Hodum had seven and five points respectively, guard Ryan Dupree had three points, while junior forward Brandon Phillips and senior guard Justin Jones had two points each to round out the scoring for the Blazers.

As a team, the Blazers shot 29-for-62 for a field goal percentage of 46.8, including going 17-for-35 for a percentage of 48.6 from the three point area, and were 8-for-12 for a percentage of 66.7 from the charity stripe. The Blazers scored 24 points in the paint, had ten points off turnovers, seven second-chance points, 15 fast-break points, and 26 points from their bench.

The Blazers fall to 7-10 overall and 4-4 in American Southwest Conference play and will return to action as they host the Louisiana College Wildcats on Wednesday, January 29, at Rugg Arena. The action is set to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

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