ATLANTA, Ga. – In a game that featured seven ties and 13 lead changes, Regis College battled back from a second half deficit to defeat Belhaven University, 74-73, Friday night in the second game of the Jack Berkshire Classic, hosted by Oglethorpe University at Dorough Field House.
Russell Rau (Fitchburg, Mass.) led the Pride with his third double-double of the season, scoring a season-high 27 points and tying his season high with 13 rebounds. Zakaria Latifi (Holliston, Mass.) came alive in the second half after a scoreless first half, posting a season-high scoring total of 14 points thanks in part to three made three-pointers, and Justin Evelyn (Uniondale, N.Y.) contributed 12 points to the winning effort.
Down by three points at halftime (38-35), Regis scored the first two baskets of the second half on layups by Jamir Harvey (Robbins, Ill.) and Cameron Wilkins (Taunton, Mass.). Belhaven responded with a 15-2 scoring run, capped by a jumper from Damien Wheaton, to establish its largest lead of the night at 53-41 with 13:19 left in the second half.
The Pride's next four field goals were three-pointers as Regis put together a 15-3 scoring run, punctuated by a traditional three-point play from Latifi, to tie the game at 56-56. After a layup by Judah Jordan, Rau and Latifi connected on two three-pointers apiece to lead a 12-point Regis scoring streak that gave the Pride their largest lead of the night at 68-58 with 5:33 to go in regulation.
Belhaven (7-4) fought back, starting with consecutive three-pointers from Jordan Marshall and Luke Couch, but Rau and Latifi answered with back-to-back baskets. Couch hit another three-pointer and then converted two free throws to bring the Blazers within one point at 72-71, followed by two made free throws by Jordan to put Belhaven ahead, 73-72, with 1:50 remaining on the clock.
On Regis' next possession, Rau hit a step-back jumper to put the Pride back on top, and that would prove to be the final points of the night. Belhaven missed two shots and committed two turnovers in the final minute of regulation, including losing the ball in the final second and allowing Regis to inbound the ball and run out the clock.
Couch led the Blazers with 24 points along with nine rebounds, while Jordan finished with 23 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. As a team, Belhaven shot 39.1 percent (25-for-64) from the field, including 9-for-19 from behind the three-point line, and 73.7 percent (14-for-19) from the free throw line.
On the other hand, the Pride shot 43.3 percent (29-for-67) from the field, including 12-for-29 from behind the three-point line.
Regis College (3-7) faces host Oglethorpe University Saturday, Dec. 30, starting at 4 p.m.