The Belmont Abbey men's basketball team made just two field goals in the final 5:06, but senior forward Kyle Phillips's three point play with 56 seconds left and a free throw from Jay Council with 25 seconds left was enough as Catawba missed a potential game-winning three pointer with four seconds left as the Abbey escaped with an 83-81 win this evening at the Wheeler Center. The Crusaders are now 6-3, while Catawba drops to 3-6.

A three-pointer by Catawba's Cameron Lovelace with 1:10 remaining put the Indians ahead 80-79, their first lead since the 3:53 mark of the first half. On the Crusaders next trip down the floor, Phillips connected on a short jumper from the block as he was fouled. He sank the ensuing free throw to put the Crusaders ahead 82-80 with 55 ticks left.

Phillips was called for a foul on the next Catawba possession, and Justin Huntley hit the second of two free throws to trim the deficit to one with 36 seconds left. After a timeout by the Crusaders, Huntley fouled Council with 25 seconds left. Council made the first and missed the second, but Phillips grabbed the offensive rebound to run more time off the clock. With 14 seconds left, Tyshawn Good was trapped on the sideline and stepped out of bounds, giving Catawba the ball with 13 seconds left.

After a Catawba timeout, Lee Martin was all alone in the right corner and his three-point attempt with five seconds left was swatted out of bounds by the Abbey. With 1.8 seconds left, Catawba had one final chance, but Huntley's inbounds pass went over the head of everybody, and Council ran it down and ran out the clock to preserve the win.

Phillips led all scorers with 24 points on 11-15 shooting with seven rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal. Tyshawn Good added 19 points including nine of 11 from the line. Council posted 13 points and Terrone Sheffey finished with ten. Belmont Abbey shot 56.4 percent (31-55) from the floor.

Cameron Lovelace led the Indians with 21 points on seven of 11 shooting. Huntley and Keon Moore both finished with 17 as the Indians posted a 53.7 percent (29-54) effort from the floor.