BANNER ELK, N.C. -- Wade Jackson scored 19 points and dished three assists, but Lees-McRae used a hot shooting second half to post an 88-54 victory over the Crusaders in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action Wednesday night.

The Abbey falls to 5-12 overall and 4-4 in league play, while the Bobcats improve to 11-5, 5-2. The teams are 2-1 and 1-0, respectively, in the Northwest Division.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jacori Owens tallied 12 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Jaylon Simpson just missed his first career-double with 10 points and eight boards. His rebounding total was a career.
• The Crusaders shot just 30.4 percent (17 of 56) from the field, the second straight game with a new season-low.
• The Abbey held a 39-34 rebounding edge but committed eight more turnovers.
• Belmont Abbey held a 12-5 advantage five minutes into the contest and later led 17-12 when the Bobcats rattled off 14 straight points. However, the Crusaders closed strong, cutting the deficit to 34-32 shortly before halftime.
• The second half was all LMC, though, as it outscored the visitors 51-22 in the final 20 minutes.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey returns home on Saturday.
• The Crusaders face Erskine at 4 p.m. at the Wheeler Center.