Belmont Abbey sophomore forward Kyle Phillips capped off a furious Crusader comeback, connecting on a turnaround shot at the buzzer as the Crusaders erased an eight point deficit with 1:22 remaining in overtime, to earn a thrilling 83-81 season opening win before 450 at the Wheeler Center this evening.

After the two teams were deadlocked at 73 at the end of regulation, Brevard scored the first seven points in the extra period to take a commanding 81-73 lead with1:22 left, but the Tornados would not score again as the Abbey scored ten unanswered to claim the victory. Tyshawn Good started the fury, as he gouged through a pair of defenders in the process of being fouled to cut the lead to 81-75. After his free throw attempt missed, senior guard Andre Fells stole the ball away from Darin Dellinger, which led to a three pointer by Richard Barbee to trim the lead to 81-78.

A missed shot by Brevard on the next trip down the floor was rebounded by Barbee, who strode down the court and was tripped. He missed both free throws, but senior forward Chad Patus grabbed the last of his 11 rebounds and fed Patrick Kuhlman, who was standing all alone in three point range, and his shot was true to knot the game at 81.

Brevard set up its offense to take the final shot of the game, but Barbee swatted the ball away from Dellinger at midcourt and raced to the rim, where the ball was knocked out of bounds with 1.5 left on the clock.

Underneath Brevard's basket, Kuhlman inbounded the ball to Phillips, who separated himself from his defender, caught the ball, gathered himself, pivoted and banked the shot off the backboard and in right as the buzzer sounded. His basket ignited a storming of the court by the Red Sea, a fan club made up mostly of Abbey students.

Barbee's 27 points on 10-15 shooting led all players, while Patus notched a double double wiht 17 points and 11 rebounds, six coming on the offensive glass. Phillips added 16 as the Crusaders shot 47.2 percent (34-72) from the floor.

Brevard shot 52.4 percent (33-63) as Sam Carlisle and Jacques Dovonou both led the way with 17, while Josh Roper posted 16.

Belmont Abbey led 42-35 at the half and led by as many as 16 points in the second half. The contest featured five ties and six lead changes.