BELOIT, Wis. — In a contest defined by first-half dominance and clutch late-game execution, the Beloit College men's basketball team held off a surging Blackburn College squad to secure a 67-63 victory at Flood Arena this afternoon.
The win brings Beloit back to .500 on the season at 3-3, while Blackburn remains winless at 0-6.
The Buccaneers utilized a balanced offensive effort with four players scoring in double figures. Anthony Carter (Greenfield, Wis.) anchored the team, playing a team-high 33 minutes and leading the scoring with 15 points. Carter filled the stat sheet, contributing five rebounds, a team-high four assists, and three steals.
In the paint, Semaj Roy (Chicago, Ill.) was a force for the Buccaneers, recording his fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds (four offensive). His presence inside was complemented by Thomas Glenn (Waukesha, Wis.), who added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Crucially, Dae'Quan Davis (Chicago, Ill.) provided a massive spark off the bench. In just 21 minutes, Davis scored 13 points and was perfect from the charity stripe, hitting 7-of-7 free throws—points that proved to be the difference-maker in a four-point game.
Beloit controlled the momentum early, capitalizing on a blistering first-half offensive performance. The Buccaneers shot 50% from the field in the opening period and 55.6% from beyond the arc. A decisive 13-0 scoring run—Beloit's best of the night—helped them build a comfortable lead, entering halftime up 41-33.
However, the dynamic changed in the second half. Blackburn came out of the locker room with renewed defensive intensity, holding Beloit to just 27.6% shooting in the second frame. Behind the scoring of Evan Jordan (who led all scorers with 25 points), Blackburn chipped away at the deficit, outscoring Beloit 30-26 in the half and narrowing the gap to a single possession multiple times in the final minutes.
Despite the shooting slump, Beloit maintained their advantage through grit on the glass and discipline at the line.
While Blackburn's offense heated up, Beloit won the game in the margins. Beloit outrebounded Blackburn 35-23. Crucially, the Bucs pulled down 15 offensive rebounds compared to Blackburn's 10, leading to 22 second-chance points. In a physical game, Beloit made Blackburn pay for fouls. The Bucs shot 78.3% (18-of-23) from the free-throw line, while Blackburn struggled, converting only 57.1% (8-of-14).
Despite a frantic final minute where the lead was threatened, Beloit's ability to secure defensive boards and convert free throws allowed them to escape with the hard-fought home victory.
The Buccaneers face their first Midwest Conference opponent of the season on Tuesday, November 25th when they travel to Grinnell, Iowa for what is sure to be a high-paced clash against the Pioneers.
