JACKSON - Belhaven men's basketball opened the 2025-26 campaign with a 78-70 victory over East Texas Baptist on Saturday night at Rugg Arena, marking the first win of the Boomer Roberts era.

First Half

The Blazers built early momentum behind their perimeter shooting and defensive energy. Benji Stewart knocked down back-to-back threes to get the offense going, and Braylon Dame followed with another from deep to put Belhaven in front.

After a brief scoring drought, the Blazers regained rhythm through patient half-court execution and active rebounding. Charleston Wallace provided a key spark off the bench, scoring on a tip-in and adding a three-pointer from the left wing to push the lead to 30-21. DJ Jones connected from long range moments later, capping a stretch where Belhaven hit four triples in six possessions.

Defensively, Belhaven's pressure forced multiple turnovers that led to transition baskets and limited second-chance looks. In the final minute of the half, Dame drilled another three to give the Blazers a 38-27 halftime advantage.

Second Half

Belhaven withstood an early push from the visitors after halftime, answering each run with timely scoring. Stewart opened the half with a fast-break layup to keep the margin comfortable, and Neal Terry scored inside on the next possession to maintain momentum.

As the pace quickened, Jones hit a key three-pointer from the right corner to extend the lead to 45-36. A few possessions later, Dame added another strong finish in the lane as Belhaven continued to control the paint. The Blazers' bench made another big impact, with Kam Beverly grabbing offensive rebounds and facilitating scoring chances to keep possessions alive.

Midway through the half, Belhaven pieced together a 9-2 stretch fueled by defensive stops and unselfish passing. Jones buried his third three-pointer of the night to make it a two-possession game, and Hays Regard added a transition bucket following a steal. Stewart then pushed the pace, finding Terry for a layup that helped the Blazers keep control entering the final minutes.

Though the visitors cut the lead to four in the final two minutes, Belhaven never lost composure. Stewart's layup off a baseline drive and two late free throws sealed the win.

Team Leaders
    •    Benji Stewart: 14 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds
    •    Braylon Dame: 13 points, 2 three-pointers
    •    Neal Terry: 10 points, 2 blocks

Belhaven shot 44.3% from the field and out-rebounded the visitors 34-29. The Blazers' bench contributed 33 points, and the team held East Texas Baptist to under 40% shooting overall.

Up Next

Belhaven returns to Rugg Arena for its home opener this Wednesday against Southeastern Baptist. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m