The Belmont Abbey men's basketball team ran its Conference Carolinas record to 3-0 after an 85-77 win at Limestone this evening.. Limestone slips to 0-2 in league play (1-3 overall) as the Abbey climbs to 3-0 in the conference (3-4 overall).

Limestone's offense was led by Andre Coleman (Clermont, Fla.) who scored 19 points. Kenny White (Columbia, S.C.) had 18 points, as Andrae Franklin (Fort Pierce, Fla.) scored 13. Bobby Grier (Powder Springs, Ga.) had a game-high seven rebounds, as Franklin and Jamison Clark (Fort Pierce, Fla.) both grabbed six rebounds. Roderick Wilson (Jacksonville, Fla.) had two blocks for the Saints.

Belmont Abbey's Jonathan Jackson (Ahoskie, N.C.) scored a game-high 19 points as four more Crusaders recorded double scoring figures. Richard Barbee (Virginia Beach, Va.) had 15, Chad Patus (Welland, Ontario, Canada) chipped in 14, and Ric Marzenko (Victoria, Australia) and Deone Murphy (Cleveland, Ohio) each recorded 10. Barbee also posted six boards.

Belmont Abbey jumped ahead in the first half and never looked back, outscoring Limestone 11-2 in the opening minutes. The Crusaders build a strong 45-28 lead heading into the second half.

Belmont Abbey brought its lead up to 23 points with 12 minutes left to play, but Limestone rallied to get within striking distance as they cut the Crusaders' lead to 7 with 4:51 left. The Abbey managed to cling to their lead as it won by 8 points, 85-77.

Limestone shot 47.7% from the field (31-65) while the Crusaders were 43.8% (28-64). Despite making 1 out of 10 3-pointers in the first half, the Saints were 52.9% from long-range in the second period, going 9-for-17 from behind the arc. Belmont Abbey was 7-for-15 in 3-pointers (46.7%), and 84.6% in free-throws (22-26). Limestone was 62.5% from the charity line, nailing 5 of their 8 free-throw attempts.

The Saints had a narrow 39-38 advantage in rebounds, as the Crusaders had 23 turnovers to the hosts' 21.

Limestone hosts Newberry on Saturday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Gaffney, S.C. Belmont Abbey is on the road again as the Crusaders travel to Hickory, N.C., to play Lenoir-Rhyne at 6 p.m. on December 14.