BELMONT, N.C. - Second-seeded Belmont Abbey used a 30-9 run early in the second half to reverse an eight-point, lifting the Crusaders to a 70-58 victory over No. 6-seed Chowan in the semifinals of the 2021 Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Tournament Thursday night. With the win, The Abbey to their fourth straight championship game appearance Sunday at top-seeded Emmanuel. The two teams split four meetings this year (two in league play) with the home team winning each time.

Sean Halloran scored 14 of his team-high 18 points after intermission with Charles Solomon reaching 10 points as the only other player in double figures.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Abbey trailed by seven points, 29-22, after the Hawks scored the first basket of the second half, but responded with nine straight points to take the lead. Halloran hit a jumper in the lane to cap the run and make the second 31-29 with 17:01 remaining. The stretch continued to 28-9 over a span of 10:45, when Halloran canned a three to make the second 52-38 at the 8:58 mark.
• The rally came after the worst shooting half of the year -- 31.3 (10-32) percent overall and 10.0 (1-10) percent from three-point range. A 16-of-25 effort in the second period was the Crusaders' fourth-best 20-minute segment of the year.
• The biggest lead was 15 at 60-45 with 3:47 left.
• Belmont Abbey held a 40-21 rebounding advantage and has just 10 turnovers, tying a season-low set against Chowan during the regular season.
• Mario Lacy, Jr., led the way on the boards with eight, while Halloran added a career-high-tying seven.
• The Crusaders closed out the home schedule 12-0 on the season.

UP NEXT

• The Conference Carolinas Championship game is on Sunday at 4 p.m.
• The Crusaders will be looking for their first tournament championship since 2013 and fourth all-time (2002 and 2003).