FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. -- DeQuan Abrom led four players in double figures with 23 points, but Emmanuel came away with a tough 82-78 victory in Conference Carolinas action Saturday afternoon.

The contest was a rematch of the 2019 Conference Carolinas Tournament championship game, also won by the Lions.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In addition to his scoring, Abrom tied for the team lead with six rebounds.
• Romeao Ferguson tallied 13 points and four assists, while Bosko Bojovic added 12 points and four rebounds. Ryan Shaffer chipped in 11 points and five boards.
• Both teams shot well from the field, topping 50 percent. The Abbey connected at 52.8 percent, while Emmanuel hit 50.9 percent.
• The Lions made seven more three-pointers than the Crusaders, 13 to 6.
• The Abbey won the battle of the boards 36 to 26.
• After the teams were tied at 32 at intermission, Belmont Abbey opened a 15-point lead, 56-41, after a Charles Solomon layup with 14:22 to play.
• The lead was still nine, 71-62, at the 5:26 mark, but Emmanuel rallied with nine straight points to even the game at 71 with just under three minutes left.
• The Crusaders went back ahead on a conventional three-point play by Ferguson with 2:49 remaining, but seven straight put the Lions ahead for good.

UPO NEXT

• Belmont Abbey (11-7, 7-4) has a week off before playing its second and final home game during the month of January.
• The Crusaders host league leader King next Saturday at 4 p.m.