J-Mychal Reese did not have to save the world.

Down the stretch, he did not even have to win it for the Bryan Vikings with Qualyn Newton hitting some key fourth-quarter shots in a 63-52 victory over the Belton Tigers.

But playing for the first time this season, Reese breathed life into a Vikings' team in need of resuscitation. The senior scored 23 points and helped open up the court for the Bryan offense.

"I felt good and got my confidence going early," said Reese, who had knee surgery before the season. "I felt my knee was all right and just played and tried to get comfortable out there."

Bryan (4-19, 2-9) is already eliminated from playoff contention, but Viking Gym felt a bit like its old self with Reese back on the job Friday.

"He's a load," Bryan coach Chris Jones said. "He can score the ball and handle it. He's a floor general and did a good job."

For most of the basketball season, fans' only glimpse of the three-time all-state player came as he slowly walked his way around the court to take his spot on the Bryan bench.

But they saw plenty of him Friday in his familiar No. 11 jersey. The 6-foot-1 guard hit 5 of 8 shots, including a first-quarter 3-pointer, and sank 12 of 15 free throws while adding three assists, two rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot.

Then after the game, he credited almost everyone for himself but himself.

"My teammates played big, stepped up, handled the ball and didn't turn it over," Reese said. "A lot of the younger guys played hard. They played good defense. It took some of the pressure off me being out there. They were relaxed and just played and everything worked out good.

"We'll do whatever we can do to win these last couple of games and go out on a good note."

Reese's return sparked interest in a game that played out casually until the fourth period, when both teams seem to get an intensity boost. Bryan's part of that allowed the Vikings to end a six-game losing streak.

Senior Daniel Mills almost single-handedly kept Belton (5-23, 1-10) in contention for a win, scoring 14 of his team's 18 fourth-quarter points to finish with a game-high 29 points. Mills hit 12 of 13 free throws overall and was the only Tiger to score more than six points.

Bryan's D.J. Payton played point guard when Reese came out of the game, which was often. Bryan used Reese in spurts, and it took him until the second half to show his typical burst of speed while pushing the ball up court. But Payton, whose game-winning shot beat the Tigers in Belton earlier this season, had 14 points and seven other Vikings scored.

"The kids were excited to be whole again, to have everybody back and have subs, and that allowed us to extend our defense," Jones said. "It felt good, real good, to be able to go to the well a little bit."

Bryan took the lead for good with 2:03 left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Payton. The Vikings built that lead to 45-38 on a step-back shot by Payton, who was playing in his first game since the last meeting with Belton. Bryan survived 3-pointers from the Tigers' Mills and Braden Hammond when Bryan was able sew up the win at the free throw line. The Vikings sank 15 of 19 free shots in the final period.

Bryan 63, Belton 52

BELTON (5-23, 1-10) -- Justin Owens 1 0-1 1 2; Trey Rose 1 0-0 3 2; Thomas Barnes 1 1-2 1 3; Braden Hammond 2 0-0 1 6; Byron Brown 1 0-2 4 4; Justin McGowan 1 0-0 0 2; Daniel Mills 8 12-13 4 29; Bo Vaughn 2 0-1 3 4; Tanaj Washington 0 0-0 1 0. Totals: 18 13-19 18 52.

BRYAN (4-19, 2-9) -- Qualyn Newton 3 2-3 3 8; Marquest Merrett 1 0-0 2 2; Jabrel Hanks 1 0-0 0 2; V.J. Banks 1 3-4 1 6; J-Mychal Reese 5 12-15 0 23; D.J. Payton 4 4-4 0 14; Tim Willett 0 0-0 1 0; A.J. Pulliam 0 0-0 3 0; Josh Gibbs 2 2-2 2 6; Sterling Whitley 0 0-0 1 0; Hollis Ballom 1 0-0 2 2. Totals: 18 23-28 16 63.

Belton 11 11 12 18 -- 52

Bryan 12 14 11 26 -- 63

3-pointers: BELTON -- Hammond 2, Mills. BRYAN -- Payton 2, Banks, Reese.

JV: Bryan 62, Belton 50. BRYAN -- Dejric Mitchell 18, Juwan Thomas 15.

Next: Bryan is at Temple and Belton hosts A&M Consolidated Tuesday.