LaGrange, Ga. — The Belhaven men’s basketball team rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit but fell short in a 69-65 road loss Thursday night at LaGrange’s Mariotti Gymnasium.
The Blazers outscored the Panthers in the second half and trimmed the margin to one in the final 30 seconds. However, key plays down the stretch helped LaGrange secure the victory, according to game reports.
Belhaven struggled early, with the home team controlling the paint and tempo. An early layup by Micah McAllister and a finish by Parker Gonzalez kept the game close briefly, but LaGrange built a double-digit lead during a stretch in the first half. Devin Dowell’s fast-break score extended the margin, forcing the Blazers to play from behind most of the half.
The Blazers began to find offensive rhythm midway through the first half. DJ Jones hit back-to-back three-pointers, and CJ Minton added another deep shot to cut the deficit from 17 to 11. Neal Terry contributed inside, including offensive rebounds and finishes in traffic, to help trim the lead further. Despite the comeback effort, LaGrange finished the half strong, with McAllister and Colton scoring late in transition to give the Panthers a 40-31 advantage at halftime.
In the second half, LaGrange regained momentum quickly. Trenton Dillard scored on a dunk and added a free throw, while McAllister scored again to push the lead to 51-31, the largest of the night for the home team. Belhaven responded with resilience. Benjamin Stewart knocked down a three, and Minton followed with two more threes to narrow the gap to 14. Defensive pressure, steals by Dyllion Redmond and Braylon Dame, and transition opportunities fueled the comeback.
The Blazers continued to chip away at the deficit. Minton hit another three, Neal Terry controlled the glass, and Kam Beverly scored inside to bring Belhaven within single digits. With less than five minutes remaining, DJ Jones drove for a layup, and Minton converted a fast-break finish to cut the lead to 63-57.
Belhaven’s biggest push came in the final two minutes. Minton’s jumper made it a two-point game, and Terry’s free throw brought the score to 63-62. After a defensive stop, Minton hit a clutch three with 27 seconds left, giving the Blazers their first lead of the game at 66-65. LaGrange answered immediately with a three by Austen Colton, swinging the lead back to the Panthers.
The Blazers had multiple chances to take the lead in the final seconds. A block by Kani Rashied-Henry and late free throws by Dillard sealed the Panthers’ victory. Belhaven moves to 9-9 overall and 3-2 in Conference Carolinas play. The team returns home next Saturday to host Piedmont at 4 p.m.
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