BELMONT, N.C. -- No. 2-seed Belmont Abbey placed four players in double figures and used a late run to pull away in an 82-72 victory of seventh-seeded Limestone in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Tournament. DeQuan Abrom scored the Crusaders' final seven points en route to a game-high 22, while also grabbing three rebounds and dishing out three assists.

With the win, The Abbey advances to a semifinal matchup against No. 3 seed Barton in Franklin Springs, Ga. on Saturday. Top-seeded Emmanuel meets No. 4 Mount Olive in the first matchup beginning at 2 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In addition to Abrom, Ben Ferguson (15), Sean Halloran (14) and Romeao Ferguson (10) all reached double figures
• Romeao Ferguson added eight rebounds, while Halloran tallied seven assists
• John Bowen just missed his second double-double of the year with nine points and 10 rebounds
• Belmont Abbey broke an 8-8 with five straight points by Halloran, then used a 10-0 run to turn a 17-13 lead into the game's biggest margin, 27-13 at the 10:32 mark
• Limestone answered later in the half with its own 10-0 run to even the game at 32 and then held a pair of one-point advantages, 35-34 and 37-36. But a Halloran jumper with 1:17 to play pushed the Crusaders back in front, 38-37 at the break
• The teams traded buckets to start the second half -- the Saints coming on a three -- to make the score 40-40, but Ben Ferguson knocked down three straight triples for a 49-40 lead that was never relinquished
• The Saints cut the margin to two at 68-66 but four straight points quenched the rally
• After Limestone trailed by four, 72-68 with 2:38 remaining, Ben Ferguson hit his fifth three of the contest to begin a 10-2 spurt
• Belmont Abbey improved to 20-2 this season when leading at the half, avenging one of the losses (at Limestone)
• Abrom became just the second player in Belmont Abbey history to reach 700 points in a single season. He stands at 703 through 29 games. His four three-pointers also give him 100 for his career and move him into 10th place on the single-season threes list.
• With five three-pointers, Ben Ferguson moved within one of second place on the career list with 265. He needs just two more to move past Jeff Brookman (266 from 1994-98)
• Evans Moreau led four Saints in double figures with 17 points.

PREVIEWING THE SEMIFINALS

• Belmont Abbey and Barton split the season series with each team winning at home.
• The Crusaders swept both opponents in the other semifinal.