Due West, SC - Belmont-Abbey beat Erskine 69-52 in Conference Carolinas men’s basketball action at Belk Arena.  For the Abbey, they snapped a two-game losing skid to even their record at 10-10 overall and 5-7 in conference.  The young Fleet team slides to 2-16 overall and 1-10 in conference.

The Fleet started well holding a four point lead midway through the first period.   With 9:52 remaining, the Abbey scored nine unanswered points over the next four minutes to take a 26-21 lead.  Richard Barbee led the charge for the Abbey scoring three consecutive baskets.  The Fleet came back to close within one point at 28-27 on back-to-back buckets by freshman DeShaun Hall (Inman, SC, Landrum High School).  The Abbey finished the half on a 5-0 run to take a six point lead at 33 to 27 into the half.

The Abbey opened the second half on a 13-4 run to take a double-digit lead.  After exchanging baskets, the Fleet trimmed the Abbey lead to just four points at 50-46 with 9:20 left to play.  Sophomore Jake Haslam (Lithia, FL, Tampa Preparatory School) started the Fleet run with a 3-point basket followed by two jump shots, one a 3-pointer, by freshman Troy Griffith (Augusta, GA, Evans High School), and a layup and two free throws by fellow freshman Adison Lawrence (Greer, SC, Eastside High School). The Abbey countered with a 9-0 run to push their lead back to double-digits at 59-46.  The Abbey closed out the game to win 69 to 52.

Nine players scored on the night for the Fleet, led by Griffith’s 12 points.  Hall contributed 10 points.

Barbee led the Crusaders scoring a game-high 17 points and Kyle Phillips added 15 points.

The Fleet travel to Banner Elk, North Carolina, on Thursday to play Lees-McRae College before returning home for a 4-game home stand.

Box Score