CALDWELLL, NJ-Belmont Abbey junior guard Deonte Murphy led all players with 22 points and freshman guard Richard Barbee added 17, but the Crusaders men's basketball team fell to Caldwell 97-71 this afternoon at the Newman Center. The Abbey falls to 1-4 on the year.

The Abbey shot 35.9 percent (23-64) from the floor, 31.8 percent (7-22) from three-point range and 94.7 percent (18-19) from the free throw line as Murphy led the way with 22 points on 7-15 shooting from the field and 6-11 from three-point range. He added a pair of assists and a pair of steals in 22 minutes.

Barbee added 17 points on 5-13 shooting from the field and sank all seven of his free throw attempts. He tied for the team lead with five rebounds and dished out a pair of assists and collected one steal in 30 minutes. Caldwell shot 58.9 percent (33-56) from the floor as five players reached double figures.

The Abbey is back in action Thursday night when it hosts Erskine at 7:30 p.m.