February 15, 2007

Boxscore

BELMONT, N.C.—Four Knights scored in double digits but host Belmont Abbey College held off St. Andrews Presbyterian College, 82-78, in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference men’s basketball action on Thursday night in the Wheeler Center.

Crusader senior forward Anthony Bell scored a game-high 24 points, sinking 8-12 field goals, including a 7-8 effort from three-point range, and sophomore guard Deonte Murphy hit five free throws in the final 28 seconds to allow the Abbey to claim its second-straight win. BAC improved to 7-15 overall and 6-10 in the CVAC, while the Knights fell to 9-16 overall and 6-12 in the CVAC.

Along with Bell, Murphy added 15 points and seven assists, as he drilled seven of eight free throws, all in the last 6:15. Senior forward Sidney Hoff registered his second-straight double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.  SAPC was led by senior Richard Stone’s (Williamsburg, Va.) 24 points, while junior Marcus Hoke (Charlotte, N.C.) added 19 on 8-9 shooting from the field. Junior Taiwon Grooms (Landover, Md.) chipped in with 15 and sophomore Charles Phillips (Decatur, Ga.) added 12 as the Knights shot 52.6 percent (30-57) from the field.

The Crusaders shot 48 percent (24-50) as they bolted out on a 13-4 run through the first four minutes. SAPC would close within five, but the Abbey would use three-pointers from Bell and senior guard Brooks Beard, and a layup from sophomore guard Jonathan Jackson to widen its lead to 13 at 23-10 with 13:36 left in the half.

The Knights countered with a 16-1 run to grab their only lead of the game at 26-24 with 8:23 remaining. From there, the Abbey would close the half by scoring all of its points from three-point range, as it outscored the Knights 18-15, using six three-pointers, three by Bell, as it took a 42-41 lead into the half.

The Crusaders maintained a lead throughout the second half building its one point lead to seven just 2:43 into the final frame. The lead would grow to ten points at 58-48 with 10:30 remaining, but the Knights closed within six at 60-54 with 8:49 left. The Abbey countered with a 10-2 run to stake its biggest lead of the game, 14 points, at 70-56 with 6:35 left.

The Crusaders maintained its double digit advantage for the next two minutes before the Knights, trailing 72-62 with 5:09 to play, went on an 11-5 run to shrink the margin to three points at 77-74 with 30 seconds left. Murphy would then hit four straight free throws, the last coming with 20 seconds left to push the lead to seven. After a Knights layup and two free throws cut the lead to four, Murphy hit another to extend the lead to four with 18 seconds left to provide the winning margin.

Sophomore Keith Josey (Norfolk, Va.) had a team-high six rebounds for the Knights and Phillips dished out three assists.

St. Andrews will entertain CVAC rival Lees-McRae College on ‘Senior Day’ Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.