Box Score SPARTANBURG, SC - The men's basketball team fell to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in the semifinal game of the 2020 Conference Carolinas playoffs. The 72-82 loss concludes the 2019-2020 season for the Lions with a final record of 18-12 overall and 14-6 in conference.
The game got off to a fast start that favored the Crusaders as they took a 6 point lead, 8-14. Freshman KJ Jones led a charge for the Lions as he scored 7 points, giving Emmanuel their first lead of the night, 19-18. However, the Lions proceeded to give up 3 turnovers as Belmont Abbey pulled ahead by 9 points, 21-30 with 6:32 left in the half.
The Crusaders extended their lead to double-digits, 35-25, as the turnover struggled continued for the Lions. A couple of fast-breaks for Emmanuel temporarily cut their deficit back to single-digits, but by the end of the half Belmont Abbey had regained the 10 point advantage, 41-31.
The second half began with Belmont Abbey scoring 10 unanswered points to give the Lions a 20 point deficit, 31-51. Over the next several minutes the Lions could do little to cut into the Crusaders' lead. However, at the 13 minute mark, junior
Tyonn Stuckey converted an and-1 free throw for a three-point play. Immediately following, Stuckey forced a turnover on the Belmont Abbey inbound and converted a layup. The Lions forced another turnover after the Crusaders' inbounded and a layup by freshman
Jayvion Rucker put the cherry on top of a 10-0 run for Emmanuel, cutting their deficit in half, 46-56.
Belmont Abbey answered with a layup and three-pointer to kill Emmanuel's momentum and regain a 15 point lead, 46-61. By the 6:08 mark the Lions were still hanging around, pulling back with 10 once again, 55-65. The Lions remained 11 points down at the 2:53 mark before freshman
Eric Jones knocked down a three-pointer to pull the Lions back within 8 points, 66-74. With 1:14 left in the game, a put-back from sophomore
Jackson Bailey cut the Lions deficit to six points, 70-76. However, clutch free-throw shooting from the Crusaders marred Emmanuel's comeback attempt as four straight free-throws sent Belmont Abbey's lead back to double-digits, 80-70 with 56 seconds remaining. Two more free throws from each team finished off the 10 point win for Belmont Abbey, 82-72.
The Lions were led by senior
Emerson McClung, who put up 20 points and 8 rebounds in his last night wearing an Emmanuel jersey. Junior
Brandon Simpson followed with 16 points and 6 rebounds.
A major factor in Emmanuel's loss was their struggle from three-point territory as they only converted 12% (3/24) of attempts. The Lions shot 35% from the field and 77% from the free-throw line. Belmont Abbey only made three three pointers as well, shooting 25% from beyond the arc. However, the Crusaders made 8 more free-throws, converting on 90% of their trips to the line. The Crusaders shot 43% from the field.
