BELMONT, N.C. -- DeQuan Abrom tallied a game-high 32 points, but a second-half surge by Southern Wesleyan lifted the Warriors to an 84-72 victory over Belmont Abbey in Conference Carolinas men's basketball game Saturday night at the Wheeler Center. The visitors rallied from a 14-point deficit late in the first half, outscoring the Crusaders 52-35 after intermission.

Despite the loss, the Crusaders (11-5, 7-2) maintain their slim lead in the league standings. Emmanuel is a half-game behind at 6-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Abrom connected on nine of 19 from the field and made all 10 of his free throws en route to his fifth 30-point effort of the season
• Charles Solomon was the only other Crusader to reach double figures with 12
• After shooting 55.6 percent (15 of 27) in the opening period, The Abbey cooled to 11 of 30 (36.7 percent) in the second half. It missed all 11 of its three-point attempts, shooting 26.3 percent for the game
• BAC posted a 30-27 advantage on the boards, while turnovers were nearly even (13 to 12)
• An 11-0 run in the first half helped the Crusaders build a 34-20 lead with 4:23 remaining in the first half, but the Warriors closed on a 12-3 spurt to trail by just five at the break.
• Solomon scored the first four points of the second half to make the lead nine at 41-32, but SWU fought back to take the lead for good at 60-59 with 7:50 to play.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey heads back out on the road for a pair of games.
• The trip begins Wednesday night at Mount Olive.