BELMONT, N.C. -- LJ McCoy scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures, lifting Belmont Abbey to an 87-85 victory over Emmanuel Friday afternoon at the Wheeler Center. The game, added to the schedule yesterday, counts as non-conference for both teams.

Sean Halloran tallied 13 points, while Chandler Baker added 11. Mario Lacy and Quest Aldridge rounded double figures with 10 points each. Kelvin Jones of Emmanuel led all scorers with 36 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After each team hit a three-pointer at the start of the game, Belmont Abbey scored eight straight points to take the early lead. The Crusaders' biggest margin was nine at 39-30 at the 4:55 mark, but the Lions scored the last four of the half to close within one point, 43-42, at the break.
• The EC run continued into the second with a 5-0 spurt that pushed the Crusaders' deficit to the biggest of the contest, 47-43 with 18:11 remaining. However, seven straight points over the next three-and-a-half minutes put The Abbey back in front.
• The last of the game's four lead changes came when Emmanuel Hernandez hit a three-pointer from the corner to give the Crusaders a 76-74 advantage with 4:59 to play.
• The Abbey led by seven with 1:19 to play, but the win was not secured until McCoy hit a pair of free throws with eight seconds on the clock.
• Davis grabbed nine rebounds with Lacy adding seven. Belmont Abbey held a 43-23 advantage on the boards, but had seven more turnovers.
• The Crusaders hit 61.5 percent in the field in the opening period, including hitting seven of 11 from three-point range.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey faces UNC Charlotte tomorrow at 7:30 in a game also added yesterday. It will count as a regular-season contest for the 49ers, but an exhibition game for the Crusaders.
• Emmanuel and Belmont Abbey will square off again Monday in Franklin Springs, Ga., in another non-conference affair. The home-and-home conference matchups between the two schools are slated for Jan. 21 and 23.