BELMONT, N.C. | Belmont Abbey College used a 26-7 run over the last eight minutes to rally for a 109-94 non-conference men's basketball victory over Young Harris College Saturday (Nov. 16) afternoon at the Wheeler Center.

The Crusaders improved to 3-1, while the Mountain Lions remained winless in four tries. Young Harris will travel to Salisbury, North Carolina, Saturday (Nov. 23) at 4 p.m. for a game against Catawba College.

Young Harris used a 12-5 run over the final 1:52 of the first half to open a 61-54 halftime lead as Brian Harper and Gonzalo Gonzalvo each hit three-pointers and Seth McCoy added two more. The Mountain Lions, who shot 52.4 percent from the floor (22-of-42) in the opening 20 minutes, converted 56 percent of their three-point attempts (14-of-25) in the first half.

The Mountain Lions opened up their biggest lead - 13 points (70-57) as Ryle Owens and Gonzalvo nailed back-to-back threes with 16:54 to play. Belmont Abbey used an an 10-0 run to get within a point (76-75) after a Sean Halloran layup with 12 minutes to play. YHC extended its lead to six (81-75) over the next 80 seconds as Harper hit a three-pointer and Alphonso Willis followed with a layup.

The Mountain Lions, who shot 27.8 percent from the field (10-of-36) in the final 20 minutes, would lead 87-83 with 8:03 to play an Owens three-pointer, but the Crusaders would take the lead for good at 92-90 on an Halloran three-pointer with 5:21 left. That started a run of 12 unanswered points for Belmont Abbey, which shot 71 percent from the field (22-of-31) in the second half, as they opened up a 100-90 lead after Halloran nailed another long-range shot with 2:59 remaining. The closest the Mountain Lions would get the remainder of the game was nine points. During the 26-7 run, Halloran scored 13 points for the Crusaders.

Halloran led the Crusaders, who outrebounded YHC 45-31, with 27 points and seven assists, while Dequan Abrom had 24 points and nine rebounds.  Romeao Ferguson posted 17 points and eigth rebounds, while Quest Aldridge and Ryan Shaffer tallied 11 poonts. Aldridge also dished our seven assists.

McCoy, who hit six three-pointers, led the Mountain Lions with 21 points, while Jacorie Archie finished with 16 - all coming in the first half. Owens finished with 14 points, while Harper finished with another double double with 13 points and 10 assists. Willis added 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists.