MARSHALL, Texas - The Belhaven Men's Basketball team was beaten on the road Monday as they opened up 2022 with an 80-65 defeat to East Texas Baptist. 

The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in the contest but the matchup stayed close in the early going. After falling behind Belhaven tied up the game with just under nine minutes gone in the first half but the hosts were able to pull out to a double-digit lead that they held onto for the remainder of the half taking a 35-22 lead into the break.

Coming out of the half, ETBU pulled way from the Blazers and were able to stifle late Belhaven runs to try and close the gap. 

As a team, the Blazers shot just a tick under 47% from the field and finished 3-15 from the behind the three-point arc. At the free throw line the Blazers finished 18-21 including going 13-15 from the line in the second half.

Arother Ratliff led the way for the Blazers as the Greenwood, Miss. put together a career performance with 32 points, a season-high and the most in his Belhaven career. Ratliff finished 10-12 from the field and 2-2 from beyond the arc. He also went 10-10 from the free throw line while pulling down five rebounds, snagging two steals and picking up a blocked shot. Luke Couch finished with eight points adding five rebounds, joining Ratliff with a joint team-high. 

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