BELMONT, N.C. -- Judah Sault scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds, keeping Belmont Abbey within striking distance of Emmanuel for most of the game, but the Lions held on for an 80-67 victory in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action Monday night. The contest, which was originally scheduled for January 11th but postponed by snow, served as the home finale.

With the result, the Crusaders fall to 2-20 overall and 1-18 in league play, while Emmanuel improves to 20-8, 18-2,

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sault converted five of his seven field goals from behind the three-point line for his season-high scoring total, while adding five rebounds and three assists.
• Two other players reached double figures - Jordan Patton with 14 and Khamani Wertz with 11. Patton joined Sault for team rebounding honors with five, while Wertz equaled his career high with a team-best 7 assists.
• The Crusaders hit 53.8% from behind the arc with the 14 total, equaling three other games as the season best. The second half shooting from long range was 80 percent (8 of 10).
• Belmont Abbey shot 52.4 percent overall from the field in the second half but were unable to counter Emmanuel's 56.6 percent effort for the game and 62.5 percent total after intermission.
• The Abbey opened the game with the first nine points, but trailed by five at the half.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey closes out the season with a trip to Lees-McRae on Wednesday.
• Tip-off in Banner Elk is set for approximately 7 p.m.