JACKSON, Miss. – In a late season contest featuring the top two teams in the Collegiate Conference of the South, the Belhaven Men's Basketball team came up just short against Maryville, falling 77-72 in a back-and-forth showdown.

Despite a strong effort and multiple lead changes, the Blazers couldn't hold off Maryville's late-game push. The game was tightly contested throughout, with 15 lead changes and 10 ties. Belhaven trailed 39-38 at halftime but traded the lead with the Scots at various points throughout the second half. 

Jacob Reese was a dominant force for Belhaven, recording a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, including six offensive boards that created second-chance opportunities.

Jordan Marshall contributed 18 points, shooting 6-14 from the field while adding six assists. Jonathan Lucas provided a solid presence inside with 12 points and nine rebounds. DeMarcus Powe knocked down three three-pointers on his way to nine points, while Dyllion Redmond added 11 points off the bench to give the Blazers a needed boost.

The loss drops Belhaven to 21-4 on the season and 11-1 in conference play, creating a tie atop the CCS standings with Maryville. The Blazers will now await confirmation of the league's tiebreakers to determine who will be the top the seed in the CCS tournament and host the semifinals and championship next weekend.

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