BELMONT, N.C. -- DeQuan Abrom led four Crusaders in double figures, but King outshot Belmont Abbey in the second half to take a 78-75 victory in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action at the Wheeler Center. The decision snapped an eight-game league winning streak (six overall) for The Abbey, which drops to 15-4, 8-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Abrom tallied 23 points, followed by Romeao Ferguson's 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. Sean Halloran chipped in 12 points and a career-high nine assists, while John Bowen had 11 points, six rebound and a pair of blocks.
• Both teams shot the same 49.2 percent (29-52), but the Tornado connected on 15 of 30 from three-point range. Conversely, the Crusaders made just eight of their 30 tries beyond the arc.
• King led by as many as seven in the opening period, but Belmont Abbey pulled ahead in the final minute of the half for a 37-36 lead at the break.
• The second stanza started with The Abbey stretching its lead to five in the first two minutes, but a 19-8 surge over next 5:10 put the visitors up by six, 57-51.
• King opened a 12-point advantage, 73-61, with 4:53 before a furious rally. The Abbey scored nine straight points to trail 73-70 with 2:15 to play, and had four chances to tie in the final two minutes. Each time, however, a three-point try rattled out and the Tornado grabbed the defensive rebound.
• The rebounding battle was even at 31 each.
• The Crusaders lost for the first time when leading at the half. They entered the contest 14-0 in those situations.
• King's Tyre Moore, Jr., led all scorers with 28 points. He hit 10 of 14 from the field overall and eight of 11 from three-point range.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey has the week off before making the short trip down I-85 to Limestone next Saturday.