BELMONT, N.C. -- Wade Jackson scored a season-high 19 points on eight of 11 shooting and Belmont Abbey answered an opening Converse basket with eight straight points en route to an 89-68 victory over the Valkyries Tuesday night at the Wheeler Center.

The victory, which doubled as The Abbey's home and Conference Carolinas openers, was the first in the head coaching career of David Belfield. With the result, the Crusaders improve to 1-4 overall and 1-0in the league while Converse falls to 1-4, 0-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• KJ Garrett tallied 14 points and three assists while Mason Taylor and Ryan Maslow each added 12 points.
• Mario Lacey spearheaded the defensive effort with a team-high six rebounds and two blocks
• Belmont Abbey told a 37-27 advantage on the boards and had a season-low seven turnovers while forcing Converse into 16.
• The Crusaders shot 53.2 percent from the field overall, hitting 11 three-pointers.
• A 10-0 run over pushed a 22-12 lead to 32-12 with 7:04 left in the first half.
• The largest lead was 24 points at 78-54 with 4:12 remaining.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey continues its homestand on Saturday.
• The Crusaders host Limestone in a 4 p.m. non-conference tilt.