March 10, 2010: For the first time since 1972, the Belhaven University men's basketball team will play in the 2010 Buffalo Funds NAIA Division I Tournament starting next week in Kansas City, Missouri. The Blazers will battle Biola University in the first round of the tournament on Wednesday night at 10:30 PM in the final game of the tournament's opening day.
Belhaven comes into the tournament with an overall record of 24-9, which set a new school record for most wins in a season. Biola University out of California represents the Golden State Athletic Conference and is 27-5 in 2010. The Eagles finished second in the GSAC and are ranked 5th in the final NAIA Top 25 Poll. Belhaven finished in a three way tie for second place in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and made it to the GCAC Tournament Championship before losing to LSU-Shreveport 101-94 Tuesday night.
Nathaniel Roche' leads the Blazers this season averaging 13.4 points and eight rebounds per game. Larell Bailey averages 11 points per game followed closely by Rob Wallace at 10.8 points per contest. Bailey and Roche' were also GCAC All-Conference selections for their efforts this season.
All the live play-by-play action of Belhaven's showdown with Biola can be heard via Stretch Internet through the Belhaven Athletics website starting with the pregame show at 10:15 PM. The official NAIA press release and complete tournament bracket can be viewed by clicking on the links below.