Box Score
FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA. -- Sean Halloran and LJ McCoy each tallied 14 points and Belmont Abbey shot 61.2 percent from the field, leading the No. 2-seeded Crusaders to an 82-70 win over top-seeded Emmanuel in the 2021 Conference Carolinas Championship game.

With the win, The Abbey (18-4) claims the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. It marks the first conference tournament championship since 2013 and the first back-to-back NCAA appearances since 2002 and 2003.

Earlier Sunday, the Belmont Abbey women's basketball team took the women's tournament title, defeating Barton at home 68-62 in overtime.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Chandler Baker also reached double figures with 10 points. He made four of five field-goal attempts, including both from three-point range. 
• Halloran added a team-high six assists to his scoring total. He made all six of his tries from the charity stripe.
• Quest Aldridge grabbed a team-high five rebounds, with three others getting four each.
• Belmont Abbey was a perfect 18 of 18 at the free throw line.
• The Crusaders made at least half their shots in both periods, bringing their season total to 25 of the 44 halves this year over 50 percent.
• The Abbey held a 27-20 rebounding advantage and held the lead for 36:26 of the 40 minutes.
• Emmanuel (15-6) hit just 39.6 percent from the field.
• The championship game marked the fifth meeting of the season between the teams -- two non-conference and two conference before Sunday. The home team had won the previous four matchups.
• This marks just the second time that the men's and women's teams at Belmont Abbey have won the conference tournament together, 2003 being the other.
• LJ McCoy and Quest Aldridge were named to the all-tournament team. Sean Halloran was named tournament Most Valuable Player.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will be one of six teams to hear their names announced during tonight's 10:30 p.m. selection show on NCAA.com.
• Belmont Abbey entered the week's official selection committee rankings third being Emmanuel and Lincoln Memorial.
• This year, the NCAA announced pre-determined hosts, putting the regional at Lincoln Memorial in Harragut, Tenn. The dates are March 13, 14 and 16 with the top two seeds getting first-round byes.