The Belmont Abbey men's basketball team outscored Erskine 40-22 in the second half after it trailed 44-32 at the half as the Crusaders snapped a three-game losing streak and remain unbeaten in Conference Carolinas play with a 72-66 win over the Flying Fleet this evening. The Abbey improves to 6-3 overall and 3-0 in Conference Carolinas.

Down 60-59 with 4:39 left, the Abbey took the lead for good on two Jonathan Jackson free throws which ignited a 13-5 game closing Crusader run to seal the win. Belmont Abbey shot 37.7 percent (20-53) from the floor, but was a sizzling 52.6 percent in the second half as Jackson led the way with 26 points on 8-16 shooting from the floor, inlcuding a 4-10 effort from three-point range in 39 minutes.

Junior center Alex Pledger, in his first action since November, added 12 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in 14 minutes, while sophomore guard Richard Barbee added ten points, seven rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes. Senior Chris McDowell led all players with 12 rebounds as the Abbey controlled the glass by a 47-33 count.

After shooting 53 percent in the first half, including 60 percent from three-point range, the Abbey held the Flying Fleet to just six total field goals in the second half.

The Abbey is back in action Thursday night at 7:30 when it hosts Mount Olive.