JACKSON, Miss. - The wait is almost over.

Belhaven Men's Basketball is headed to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in program history and will open play against No. 5 ranked University of St. Thomas (TX) on Friday, March 6 at 7:00 PM CST inside the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center.

The matchup marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Belhaven enters the tournament riding the momentum of its first CCS Tournament Championship, while St. Thomas (TX) captured the SCAC Conference Championship with a 92-74 win over Concordia (TX). The Celts finished the regular season 26-1 overall and a perfect 16-0 in conference play.

Nationally Ranked Matchup

Friday's contest features two of the most statistically impressive teams in the country.

Belhaven brings the nation's 15th highest scoring offense into the tournament at 89.1 points per game. The Blazers have paired that offensive firepower with relentless defensive pressure, forcing 19.07 turnovers per game, which ranks 10th nationally. Their 11.0 steals per game sit 18th in the country.

On the defensive end, Belhaven has also been dominant at the rim. The Blazers rank third nationally with 154 total blocks and have recorded double-digit blocks in four of their last five games.

Ball movement has been another strength. Belhaven is one of just 13 teams in Division III with at least 500 assists this season, highlighting the unselfish, up-tempo style that fueled its CCS Conference Championship run.

St. Thomas presents a different challenge.

The Celts allow just 61.5 points per game, the eighth fewest in the country, and are one of only 26 programs nationally holding opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field this season. They also thrive on defensive disruption, averaging 10.3 steals per game, which ranks 25th nationally.

Friday night will feature one of the nation's top offenses against one of its stingiest defenses.

Bracket Breakdown

Belhaven and St. Thomas are part of a four-team pod that also includes Whitworth and Trinity (TX), who will tip off at 4:30 PM Friday. The winner of that matchup will face the winner of Belhaven vs. St. Thomas on Saturday with a berth in the next round on the line.

Historic Moment

This marks Belhaven's first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and caps a landmark season that included the program's first CCS Tournament title.

Now, the Blazers step onto the national stage against one of the country's top-ranked teams with a chance to continue their historic run.

For the latest news on Belhaven Blazers athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. To support Belhaven Athletics check out Team Green Giving.