Cuthbertson Has Career Performance in Loss at Belmont Abbey
Cuthbertson recorded career numbers in points (26) and rebounds (18) posting his third double-double of the season.
BELMONT, N.C. – Isaiah Cuthbertson had a career performance in the Lions 93-85 loss at Belmont Abbey Thursday afternoon. Mars Hill fell to 2-8 on the season while the Crusaders improved to 4-7 on the season.
Cuthbertson recorded career numbers in points (26) and rebounds (18) posting his third double-double of the season. He was 10-15 from the floor.
Carter Wright hit a career best six 3-pointers in the contest as he scored 30 points, his second highest scoring total in his two season at MHU. Devonte Williams rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Lions with 13 points. He added four assists. The Lions scored 44 points in the paint and 17 second chance points.
Chris Davis led Belmont Abbey with 25 points and eight rebounds while Jonathan Garrett added 19 points and 11 boards. Justin Kuhlman also tallied 19 points while Ray Chen chipped in 10. He was 4-4 in the final seconds of the game at the foul line to help seal the win for the Crusaders.
Kuhlman hit a 3-pointer at the 18:57 mark of the first half and Belmont Abbey would lead the rest of the first half. A 10-4 run was capped off by a layup from Garrett to give the Crusaders a nine-point (13-4) advantage with 16:20 left in the first frame. The Lions went on a 17-8 run over the next seven minutes to tie the contest at 21-all with 9:46 on the clock after Wright hit a shot from behind the arc. Belmont Abbey answered the run by outscoring the Lions 23-9 to lead by 14 points (44-30) with 3:17 left in the opening period. An old-fashioned 3-point play by Davis sent the teams into the locker room with Belmont Abbey holding an 11-point (49-28) lead.
After another 3-point play by Davis with 15:17 left in the game put the Crusaders on top by 20 points (65-45) and the outlook for the Lions looked dim. However, MHU slowly began to chip away at the Crusaders' lead. After outscoring Belmont Abbey 36-15 over the next 12 minutes, the Lions took their first lead of the game with 3:50 left in regulation after Wright hit another 3-pointer. Unfortunately, three straight turnovers by the Lions led to Belmont Abbey scoring seven unanswered points to lead 87-80 with 2:03 on the clock after Davis hit a shot in the paint. Mars Hill would still not die and cut the lead back to just two points (87-85) with 37 ticks left. MHU fouled Ray Chen and he sank a pair of foul shots to extend their advantage to 89-85 with 29 seconds left in the game. A missed shot on the Lions' next possession forced MHU to foul Chen again. He sank both shots at the charity stripe to seal the win with 21 seconds remaining. Mars Hill then missed a 3-pointer and Garrett hauled in the rebound. He was fouled and also connected on both free throws to make the final tally, 93-85 in favor of the hosts.
Mars Hill will return to action on January 4 when they play at SAC foe Queens University. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
