The Belmont Abbey men's basketball team fell to the visiting Mount Olive College Trojans 83-71 this evening at the Wheeler Center. The Trojans improve to 5-6 overall and remain perfect in Conference play with a 4-0 mark, while the Abbey slips to 6-4 overall and suffers its first Conference Carolinas loss, dropping to 3-1.

Belmont Abbey shot 42.9 percent (27-63) from the field as Alex Pledger led five Crusaders in double figures with 17 points. He sank six of ten field goal attempts and all five of his free throw attempts while pulling down six rebounds, handing out two assists and blocking two shots. Sophomore guard Richard Barbee added 16 points on 6-9 shooting from the field, and Kyle Phillips finished with 12 points. Kashif Gumbs came off the bench and posted a double double with ten points and ten rebounds. He sank four of his eight field goal attempts and five of his rebounds were on the offensive end. Point guard Deonte Murphy posted ten points and ten assists in 36 minutes.

Mount Olive enjoyed a solid shooting night, posting a 50.8 percent (30-59) effort from the floor and a 64.7 percent (11-17) from three-point range, including a 72.7 percent (8-11) in the second half. Justin Melton led four Trojans in double figures with 23 points on 7-12 shooting (5-7 from three-point range), while collecting six rebounds, four assists and a steal. Kendrick Easley added 21 points on 7-13 shooting, including all four of his three point field goal attempts, while handing out four assists. Mike Holloman and Kason Cheeks both finished with ten points each.

The Abbey is back in action Wednesday night at 7:30 when it goes on the road to face Lees-McRae.