Belmont Abbey junior center Alex Pledger led all scorers with 17 points, 11 from the free throw line, as the Crusaders men's basketball team earned its fifth-straight win with a 51-46 victory over Erskine this afternoon. Belmont Abbey improves to 16-7 overall and 12-4 in Conference Carolinas, while Erskine is now 6-17 overall and 5-12 in Conference Carolinas.

Pledger led three Crusaders in double figures with 17 points on three of five shooting, while converting 11 of 12 free throw attempts. He also had seven rebounds and six blocked shots in 25 minutes. Chad Patus and Jonathan Jackson both finished with 10 ten points, as Patus sank four of his six field goal attempts, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out a pair of assists. Jackson sank four of his nine field goal attempts. Deonte Murphy led all players with five assists as 13 of the Abbey's 15 field goals were assisted. Belmont Abbey shot 46.9 percent (15-32) from the floor and 31.3 percent (5-16) from three-point range.

Erskine shot 40.4 percent (19-47) from the field as Nick Riley led the way with nine points.