BELMONT, N.C. -- Belmont Abbey battled Emmanuel to the final minute Saturday, but a late three-point play by this week's national play of the week lifted the Lions to a 73-70 victory over the Crusaders in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action. KJ Jones, who was held to under 20 points for just the fourth time in 16 games this season, converted an short jumper and free throw with 19.9 seconds remaining, capping a game-ending 5-0 run.

The Crusaders fall to 4-10 overall and 3-2 in league play, while Emmanuel improves to 12-4, 4-1 .

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Mason Taylor, Kyle Frazier and Darius Kane each tallied 12 points to lead The Abbey.
• Junior transfer Alhousseny Diallo, who missed the first 12 games with a broken finger, made his first career start and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
• Kane and Taylor each dished out five assists to lead the team.
• Belmont Abbey committed just nine turnovers, while forcing 12, but the Lions had a slight 31-27 advantage on the boards.
• Belmont Abbey shot 47.5 percent from the field overall, including 50 percent in the second half.
• The game featured six ties and 18 lead changes, with the biggest lead for either team being eight. In the final 5:18, the lead went back and forth six times.
• The Crusaders led 52-44 with 15:54 remaining in the contest and were up 70-68 after Kane's three-point play with 3:20 to play, but The Abbey did not score again.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey continues its three-game homestand on Tuesday.
• The Crusaders welcome North Greenville to the Wheeler Center for a 7 p.m. contest.