JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven Men's Basketball team earned a spot in the Collegiate Conference of the South Semifinal Round with a 73-69 win over 7th-seeded Huntingdon on Tuesday night. The Blazers improved to 14-11 overall with the win.
 
It was back and forth early on as Belhaven and Huntingdon traded buckets to an 8-8 tie at the first media timeout. The Blazers created some separation with an 11-1 run to take a 19-9 lead with 13 minutes left in the first half.
 
Judah Jordan's layup with 9:35 left gave Belhaven a 13-point lead, but the Hawks answered by cutting the Blazers' lead to just seven with five minutes remaining. A pair of Huntingdon free throws at the 1:39 mark made it 35-30 in favor of the Green and Gold, and Belhaven took a 38-33 lead into the halftime break.
 
The Blazers held the lead until a back-to-back Huntingdon threes gave the visitors a 50-47 advantage with 9:46 to play in regulation. Belhaven responded with baskets from Jordan and Neal Terry to regain the lead, but Huntingdon scored the next four points to go up 54-51.
 
Jordan Marshall answered with a three to draw even at 54, and the two teams continued to trade points late. A three-pointer put the Hawks up 69-66 with 1:22 to go, but Matthew McMillan knocked down a pair of free throws to draw within one with under a minute left.
 
After Belhaven forced a turnover, Judah Jordan finished on the other end to put the Blazers in front 70-69 with just 20 ticks remaining. An offensive foul gave the ball back to Belhaven, and Jordan and Terry combined to hit three of four from the line to seal the 73-69 victory.
 
Marshall led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds, while Jordan and Couch each finished in double figures with 16 apiece.
 
The Blazers advance to take on No. 3 LaGrange, a 62-54 winner over Covenant, on Friday, February 24th in the Semifinals. The Semifinals and Championship are set to be held at Maryville College by virtue of their regular season title.

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