Jackson, Miss. — Belhaven University is making its first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Blazers will face No. 5-ranked University of St. Thomas (Texas) on Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m. CST inside the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center.
The matchup is the first-ever between the two programs. Belhaven advanced to the tournament after winning its first CCS Tournament Championship. St. Thomas (TX) secured the SCAC Conference title with a 92-74 victory over Concordia (Texas). The Celts finished the regular season with a 26-1 record and a perfect 16-0 mark in conference play.
Both teams are highly ranked nationally for their statistical performances. Belhaven boasts the 15th-highest scoring offense in Division III, averaging 89.1 points per game. The team also ranks 10th nationally with 19.07 forced turnovers per game and 18th with 11 steals per game. Defensively, Belhaven is strong at the rim, ranking third nationally with 154 total blocks and recording double-digit blocks in four of its last five games. The team’s unselfish ball movement has also been a key factor, with at least 500 assists this season, one of only 13 Division III teams to reach that mark.
St. Thomas presents a contrasting challenge. The Celts allow just 61.5 points per game, the eighth-fewest in the country, and are among 26 programs nationally to hold opponents under 40% shooting from the field. Their defense also creates turnovers, averaging 10.3 steals per game, which ranks 25th nationally.
The game will feature a high-powered offense against a stout defensive team. The winner will advance to face either Whitworth or Trinity (Texas) on Saturday, with a spot in the next round at stake.
This marks Belhaven’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and caps a historic season that included the program’s first CCS Tournament title. The Blazers now have the chance to continue their breakthrough run on the national stage.
