Junior guard Jonathan Jackson led three Belmont Abbey players in double figures with a season and game-high 26 points as the Crusaders survived a last-second Coker attempt to tie the game as the Abbey held on to defeat the Cobras 68-66 this afternoon. The Crusaders have now won three straight and four of their last five as they improve to 7-6 overall and remain atop the Conference Carolinas lead with a 6-1 record. Coker falls to 5-8 overall and 3-3 in Conference play. This is the first time the Abbey has been over .500 since November of 2004.

Jackson finished with 26 points on 7-16 shooting from the field and a 9-12 effort from the free throw line. Richard Barbee added 14 points and nine rebounds, the last one coming on Coker's last-second shot. Ric Marczenko contributed 11 points and five rebounds as the Crusaders held a 33-27 advantage on the glass. The Crusaders shot 42.6 percent (23-54) from the floor.

Coker shot 48.8 percent (21-43) as Josh Poston led the Cobras with 20 points on 5-9 shooting from the field, and sank all eight of his free throw attempts. JC Haffner added 11 points, while Lukas Varga and Mason Ambler both contributed ten.

The Crusaders did not score in the final 2:30 as the Cobras cut the lead from 68-62 to 68-66 with 1:23 remaining in regulation, but the contest was far from over. After a Crusaders turnover, Ambler missed a tying layup attempt that Deonte Murphy pulled down with 47 seconds left.

Using much of the clock as possible, Barbee drove the lane with 16 seconds left and was called for a charging foul, giving Coker another chance. With six seconds left, Varga's pass was intercepted by Barbee, whose momentum carried him out of bounds, giving Coker one final chance. After it took a timeout, Coker set up a play for Ambler, whose short jumper from the right side fell off the back iron, and Barbee cradled the rebound just before the buzzer sounded as the Abbey held on for the win.