The Belmont Abbey men's basketball team suffered a 97-85 loss in the first of two games they will play this weekend at the Queens Final Fire Classic. The Crusaders trailed 88-83 with 3:24 to play, but Winston-Salem State went a 9-2 run to close out the game to seal the win. With the loss the Crusaders fall to 2-1 on the season while Winston-Salem improves to 2-0 on the season.

The first half was back and forth with neither team taking control until Winston-Salem State went on an 11-2 run to close the half after the two teams were tied at 36 to give it a 47-38 lead. The Crusaders were able to overcome the nine-point half time deficit and tie the game at 66 at the 11:28 mark and again at 69 with 10:47 left in the second half before Winston-Salem State went ahead to stay despite a late Abbey run that chopped the lead down to five points with 5:34 to play.

Kyle Phillips had team highs in points with 18 and blocks with two. Ryan Conrad contributed 17 points and four assists. Terrone Sheffey scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds to go along with his team high six assists. Darryl Durham and Tim Mason each grabbed a team leading seven rebounds. The Crusaders shot 46.4 percent from the field, and sank 14 of 18 free throw attempts. Winston-Salem State attempted 40 free throws, converting 26. LaMar Monger led all players with 32 points as WSSU shot 42.5 percent from the field.

The Crusaders are back in action tomorrow at 6:00 when they face Georgia College.