BELMONT, N.C. -- Belmont Abbey scored six straight points in a 58-second span near the five-minute mark of the second half and never trailed again in a 60-56 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne in non-conference men's basketball action Friday afternoon. Wade Jackson scored 21 points and Mario Lacy, Jr., posted his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Crusaders trailed in a back-and-forth affair 48-47 with 5:21 remaining in the contest when Jackson canned a three-pointer to put The Abbey ahead for good. Charles Solomon hit one-of-two free throws before Lacy converted a second-chance put-back for a 53-48 advantage with 4:23 to play.

The win, Belmont Abbey's seventh in eight games since an 0-4 start, moved the overall record to 7-5. The Bears fall to 6-5 with the setback.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jackson tallied 12 of his points in the second half, while Lacy's saw 10 of his points scored after intermission.
• Lacy had 10 of his 11 rebounds on the defensive end and had three steals. His final theft came with 21 seconds left with a 59-55 lead.
• The Crusaders forced 16 turnovers by the Bears, which entered the game ranked sixth nationally in fewest turnovers.
• Belmont Abbey hit just 40.7 percent from the field, its second-lowest total of the season, but held Lenoir-Rhyne to 40.0 percent overall.
• Former Crusader LJ McCoy, now in graduate school at L-R, led the Bears with 20 points, crossing 1,000 points for his career on his final basket.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey closes its non-conference schedule on Tuesday.
• The Crusaders host Carson-Newman in the back of a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.