Erskine guard Mike Gabbard broke an 82-82 tie with a 15 footer at the buzzer as the Flying Fleet rallied from an eight point deficit with five minutes to play to earn an 84-82 win this evening at the Wheeler Center in the Conference Carolinas opener for both teams. Erskine remains unbeaten at 3-0 overall and 1-0 in Conference Carolinas, while the Abbey suffers its first loss, dropping to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in league play.

Gabbard finished with 20 points, all in the second half, as the Fleet trailed 74-66 with 5:28 left. After a both teams scored baskets, Erskine closed to within four at 78-74 with 2:58 to go. A jumper by Jay Council, the final two points of his 25 for the night, extended the edge to 80-74 with 2:17 to go, but Gabbard connected on a three-pointer on Erskine's next possession to keep the Fleet within one score of the Crusaders with 1:46 left.

38 seconds later, a scrappy effort by the Crusaders pushed the lead to 82-77 as Tyshawn Good missed a layup, but Terrone Sheffey was there for the offensive rebound. Council missed another shot, but Good was there for the stickback to give the Abbey some room at 82-77 with 1:12 to go.

Erskine did not go away, as Jake Haslam connected on a wide-open three pointer on its next trip down the floor to close the Abbey's lead to a pair.

A costly Crusaders turnover on their next possession turned into a layup for Erskine's Corey Sorrell that deadlocked the game at 82. Sorrell's points came with 41 ticks left.

After an Abbey timeout, Council missed a jumper that Erskine's Roderick Perkins corralled with 11 seconds left. After an Erskine timeout with four seconds left, Gabbard received the inbounds pass, raced down the floor and lifted a fall-away jumper which dropped at the buzzer to give the Fleet the win.

Council posted a double double as he posted game-highs with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Four of the Abbey's five starters reached double figures as Sheffey added 21 points, Good posted 19 and Chris Davis netted 12. Sheffey also had seven boards, five assists and a steal in 37 minutes. The Crusaders shot 59 percent from the floor and were seven of 15 from three-point range.

Erskine shot 50 percent as Sorrell led four Fleet players in double figures with 23 points. Gabbard totaled 20 points and ten assists, while Haslam added 15, all from three-point range. Perkins, who played most of the second half with four fouls, chipped in with 11.