BELMONT, N.C. -- Romeao Ferguson, ThankGod Avar and Sean Halloran all set various career highs and Belmont Abbey shot over 50 percent for the third time in four games, lifting the Crusaders to a 79-58 victory over Southern Wesleyan Saturday afternoon at the Wheeler Center. The win was the Conference Carolinas opener for The Abbey, which improves to 6-2, 1-0, while the Warriors fall to 1-7, 1-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ferguson scored a career-best 24 points, hitting eight-of-12 field goals and all eight free-throw attempts. He also added four rebounds and two assists.
• Avar scored four points, but grabbed 11 rebounds, his personal best. He was also credited with two blocked shots.
• Halloran dished out eight assists and made two steals against two turnovers. He also tallied seven points and four boards.
• DeQuan Abrom (16) and Ben Ferguson (12) also reached double figures in scoring.
• For the second straight game, Belmont Abbey hit 50.9 percent from the field. The 57.1 percent effort (16-28) in the second half was the second-best 20 minutes so far.
• Belmont Abbey held a 41-30 rebounding advantage.
• The Crusaders trailed 12-11 in the early going, but rattled off 11 straight points and never trailed again. The margin was nine, 33-24, at the half.
• A 29-point difference at 79-50 with 2:12 to play was The Abbey's largest of the season, but SWU tallied the final eight points over the remaining time.
• The Warriors placed three players in double figures, led by Jeremy Wert with 17.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey continues Conference Carolinas play with a key trip to Barton on Tuesday. The Crusaders and Bulldogs were ranked in the top seven regionally last Monday before suffering mid-week losses.