JACKSON - The 2024-25 Belhaven Men's Basketball season is set to tip off on Tuesday night inside Rugg Arena, and it comes with high expectations for a team that has reached the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament title game in each of the last two seasons.

The Blazers were tabbed to finish second in the Preseason Coaches Poll that was announced by the league last week. Belhaven picked up 30 points in the poll, just six behind first-place Maryville.

The roster includes a combination of key returners along with a heavy crop of newcomers that are looking to help the Blazers take the next step. Despite losing All-Conference players Luke Couch and Judah Jordan to graduation, Belhaven returns CCS Sixth Man of the Year and First Team selection Jacob Reese, All-CCS Second Teamer Jordan Marshall, Jonathan Lucas, Jermario Hersey, and Neal Terry to form a strong nucleus. Guards Todd Larkin and Zion Owens also return after logging important minutes for the Blazers last season.

Belhaven bolstered their roster primarily through the addition of junior college transfers. Raymond Adams, Dyllion Redmond, DeShun Dunn, and DeMarcus Powe all played for Mississippi junior college programs last season while Jordan Williams and Justin Reid competed for NCAA Division II teams in 2023-24.

The Blazers open the season with in-state foe MUW on Tuesday before heading to Memphis for the Rhodes Classic. A heavy road slate includes trips to Spokane, Washington and Greensboro, North Carolina before CCS play begins on January 7th against LaGrange inside Rugg Arena.

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