Lions Come From Behind To Beat Crusaders

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Lions' men's basketball team overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half to defeat Belmont Abbey College, 69-66, Saturday afternoon in Stanford Arena. Both teams took their season record to 3-2 on the year. The contest saw six ties and 10 lead changes.

Donterious Hughes (Gastonia, N.C.) led MHC with 17 points, including the go-ahead shot from behind the arc with 1:52 left in regulation that gave the Lions a 65-64 advantage they would not relinquish. Hughes added five rebounds and three assists. Sammy Emile (Lake Worth, Fla.) followed with 11 points hitting 7-8 shots at the charity stripe. Dion Malachi (Shelby, N.C.) had eight points and the same number of rebounds.

Kyle Phillips and Richard Barbee led the Crusaders scoring 17 and 16 points in the game, respectively. Matthew Graves came off the bench to score nine points and pull down five boards.

Both teams struggled from the foul line. MHC converted on only 56.5% (13-23) while Belmont Abbey hit only 59.1% (13-22) of their attempts. The Crusaders hit only 37.1% (26-70) from the floor while the Lions were 44.1% (26-59) from the field. BAC edged the Lions on the boards, 47-42.

After MHC enjoyed a 22-21 lead in the first frame with 7:31 on the clock, BAC went on a 12-3 run to take an eight-point lead (33-25) with 26 seconds left in the first half. A layup by Julian Mack (Morganton, N.C.) at the close of the first period sent the teams into the locker room with the Lions down six (27-33).

The Crusaders extended their lead to 11 points at the 14:51 mark in the second stanza when Zach Powell hit a shot in the lane. The Lions would then begin to chip away at the Crusaders lead out scoring their opponent 34-22 over the next 12 minutes to take the lead on Hughes' long range jumper. The Crusaders tied the contest on a free throw by Terrone Sheffey with 1:26 left in regulation but a layup by Dallas Johnson (Auburndale, Fla.) after Sheffey's second attempt missed, sealed the win for the home team.

A missed shot by Barbee on the next possession made the Crusaders foul Emile who hit a pair fouls shot to make the score 69-65 with 34 ticks left. MHC fouled Jay Council who hit only one of two free throws to make the score 69-66 with 21 seconds left in the game. BAC still had a chance after Hughes missed both foul shots after a quick Crusader foul but Barbee's 3-point attempt at the buzzer did not find the mark.

MHC will open South Atlantic Conference play next Saturday hosting Lenoir-Rhyne University. Tip-off in Stanford Arena is set for 4 p.m.