The Belmont Abbey men's basketball team shot 58 percent from the field as it received a game-high 23 points from sophomore forward Kyle Phillips as the Abbey won its second-straight game and its third in the last four games with a 94-86 win over the visiting Mars Hill Lions this afternoon at the Wheeler Center. The Crusaders improve to 5-3, while Mars Hill falls to 4-5.

Phillips's 23 points led all scorers and four Crusaders to reach double figures, as he finished eight of ten shooting from the field with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. He also sank seven of his nine free throw attempts. Senior forward Chad Patus posted a double double with 19 points on four of six shooting from the floor and an 11-14 effort from the free throw line. He added a game-high 13 rebounds as the Abbey won that battle by a convincing 41-29 margin. He also led all players with seven assists. Senior guard Andre Fells added 15 points on five of eight shooting and freshman Tyshawn Good posted ten points on four of five shooting from the field.

Mars Hill shot 46 percent as Danny Sanders led a quartet of Lions in double figures with 22 points, while Stoney Polite added 20. Dion Malachi posted 17 points on eight of ten shooting from the field, and Brittion Smith chipped in with 11.

The Crusaders never trailed after being down 2-0 and led by as many as 26 points. It built a 17-point lead in the first half at 37-20 with 1:22 remaining, and took a 15-point lead, 39-24, into the half.

Belmont Abbey opened the second half by exploding on a 17-8 run over the first 7:12 to capture a 27-point lead, 59-32, with 12:48 to go. Mars Hill would go on a mini run to close to within 14 at the 6:17 mark, but three straight free throws from Phillips and Patus moved the advantage back to 17. Mars Hill would again rally, cutting the Abbey's lead to eight points behind an 11-4 jaunt that got it to 76-68 with 3:56 left.

The Crusaders would respond with a mini-run of its own, pushing the margin back to 14 with 1:23 remaining, and they sank three free throws in the final minute to seal the win.