AUSTIN, Texas - The Belhaven University Men's Basketball team earned their third straight overall win and second straight win in American Southwest Conference play on the road on Friday, January 15. The Blazers used a comeback effort against the Concordia University Tornados to pull off a 102-98 victory in their first road competition in ASC play.

The Tornados stormed out to an early 11-6 lead over the Blazers with just over 15 minutes left in the first half. However, the Blazers responded with a 22-8 scoring run over the next six minutes to take a 28-19 lead with nine minutes remaining in the half. The Tornados fought back and cut the Blazers lead down to 37-34 with four minutes remaining in the half. thanks to a 15-9 scoring run over the next five minute stretch. The Tornados closed out the half with a 13-6 scoring run to take a 47-43 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.

The Blazers surged ahead to start the second half with an 18-4 scoring run to take a 61-51 lead with just under 15 minutes remaining in the game. However, the Tornados once again battled back with a 17-7 scoring run to tie the game at 68 apiece with slightly under ten minutes left to play. The Blazers and Tornados traded baskets and leads over the next five minute stretch; however, neither team could pull away as the game once again was tied at 82 each with five minutes remaining in the game. The Blazers shortly regained the lead and closed the game out on a 20-16 scoring run to seal the 102-98 victory.

For the second game this season, the Blazers had five players earn double-digit scoring numbers as sophomore guard Luke Couch led the way with 32 points, which also led all scorers for both teams. Couch shot 80 percent from the field and went 15-16 from the free throw line for 93.75 percent on the night. Couch's performance from the free throw line is the second best individual game performance in school history. Junior forward Korri Edwards was the second leading scorer with 15 points, sophomore guard Rian Shields added 14 points, while junior guard Austin Reed and sophomore guard Matthew McMillan tacked on 13 points apiece. As a team, the Blazers shot 66 percent from the floor, 33-50, including 8-15 for a percentage of 53.3 from three, and went 28-35 for 80 percent from the free throw line. The team shooting percentage is also the second best single game performance in school history.

The Blazers improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in American Southwest Conference play and will return to action on the road as they face off against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Cru on Saturday, January 16. The action is set to tip-off at 5 p.m. 

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