BELTON, Texas - The Belhaven Men's Basketball team dropped their first game of the calendar year suffering a 109-91 loss on the road against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. 

In the high scoring contest, the Blazers stuck with the hosts despite playing on the second night of a back to back. Belhaven opened up the game with strong shooting and took an early lead over the Cru with the advantage as high as eight points in the early part of the first half. The home team pushed back though and took their first lead with 9:47 to go in the opening half. The Blazers kept the gap within a deficit in the first half before a buzzer beating shot gave UMHB a four point lead going into the break. 

In the second half the Cru found their offensive game and were able to open up a 15 point lead inside the first five minutes of the second half. Belhaven worked to close the deficit but could not find the scoring run needed to close the gap with UMHB able to see out the 109-91 win.

The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Blazers who had won the previous night's contest on the against Concordia (TX). Belhaven moves to 3-2 on the season and 2-1 in conference action.

Sophomore Luke Couch led all individuals with 37 points on the night, a career high. Couch also recorded five assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals on the nice. Matthew McMillan scored 18 points for the Blazers and hit a career high, six three-pointers in the contest. 

UMHB was led by sophomore Josiah Johnson who finished the game with 34 points in 30 minutes to go with six assists and eight rebounds. Carson Hammond recorded the lone double-double of the game with 18 points and 12 rebounds. 

Belhaven will look to bounce back when they return home on Thursday, January 21 to host the University of the Ozarks. Tip off against the Eagles is set for 7:30 PM. 

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