Page 8 - CROSSROADS - December 1978
Crusaders Off And Running
4-4 Record
With eight games under their belt of experience, the Crusaders of
Belmont Abbey College post a misleading record of four wins and
lour losses.
After shooting their way to two victories in the Thanksgiving
Double-Header over J.C. Smith by a score of %-67 and Coastal
Carolina College by a score of 75-71, Coach Bobby Hussey’s
Crusaders suffered three consecutive defeats at the hands of some
very formidable opponents. Early season road games with two
powerful Wisconsin teams resulted in setbacks of 99-74 to the
I’niversity of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and a loss of 70-56 to
Marquette University, a team which is ranked seventeenth nation-
■ i'le
Tt e th'rd defeat of the Abbey's season came from Gardner-Webb
C liege in the Cba -lottc C iliseum by a score of 92-72.
Withineirrecoi I >t 2 3. the Crusaders entered the WBTV Carolina
Classic. Coach Hussey's squad captured a second place finish by
defeating Catawba College by a score of 74-70 and Lenoir-Rhyne by a
score of 72-70 before suffering a two-point loss at the hands of Gard
ner-Webb in the championship game by a score of 81-79.
1st game; In the Thanksgiving Double-Header, the Abbey’s
opening game performance earned the team a %-67 victory as David
Kershaw led the Crusaders with 23 points, while Mike Littlejohn
added 19 and Lawrence Carter sank 18.
2nd game: Also in the Thanksgiving Double-Header, the second
game of the Abbey’s season placed the Crusaders against a strong
Coastal Carolina team. Belmont Abbey College pulled out a 75-71
victory as four men hit double figures for the Crusaders. Carter
paced all scoring with 22 points, while Littlejohn hit 13 and Kershaw
and freshman John Picinich both added 12.
But as the Crusaders traveled far north to play the University of
Wisconsin at Milwaukee and Marquette University, the team ran
into more trouble than just foul weather.
3rd game: In the first game of the road trip, the Abbey was
defeated by the University of Wisconsin by a score of 99-74 as stan
dout forward David Kershaw was limited to only first quarter action
by an ankle injury. Littlejohn and Carter carried the scoring duties
with 19 and 18 points respectively as Reggie Holmes added 16 and
Picinich reached 10 points.
4th game: After adjusting to the huge Wisconsin crowds and the
chilling weather, Hussey’s squad took on the nationally ranked
Marquette University. As the first half of play ended with Belmont
Abbey College leading by a score 30-26, all talk of underdogs and
soft touch opening games had painfully been swallowed by the
Marquette forces.
Hopes of defeating the Warriors were still present with seven
minutes remaining on the clock as the Abbey held a two point lead.
However, as the game reached an end, the Crusaders were defeated
by a score of 70-56.
Littlejohn hit eight field goals and went four for four at the free
throw line to lead the Abbey with 20 points. Other double figure men
for the Crusaders were Carter and Holmes with 10 points each.
5th game: Upon returning from the Wisconsin trip, the Abbey shot
it out with Gardner-Webb in a WBTV Carolina Classic preview game
which was played in the Charlotte Coliseum. A poor field goal
shooting percentage resulted in a 92-72 defeat for the Crusaders.
Leading scorers for the Abbey were Kershaw with 16, Carter with
14, Littlejohn with 13 and Picinich with 10 points.
On Dec. 7.8, and 9 Belmont Abbey College hosted the fourth annual
Carolina Classic.
fith game: In first round tournament action, Belmont Abbey won a
thrilling 74-70 victory, over Catawba College. Billy Holmgaard
returned to the Crusader line-up after recovering from an acute case
)f mononucleosis to contribute 12 points. David Kershaw led the
Abbey with 20 points as Carter,scored 16 and Littlejohn added 12
points.
7th game: The Crusaders advanced to round two of the Carolina
C!a.ssic to play Lenoir-Rhyne, the team which was runner-up in the
previous season's tournament.
.After a. close game in which the lead changed hands nearly as
many times as the ball was trough up court, the Crusaders pulled
)U' to win by a score of 72-70. Holmgaard led all scorers with 16
[xiiots Ot.'cr louole figure men for tae Abbey were Kershaw with
:5.' 'artei and Littlejohn with 12 and Jir' thy Crawford with 11 points.
8th game: tn the championship game of the WBTV Carolina
Classic Tounu .ment, which was televised by WBTV and CBS, the
Crusaders of Belmont Abbey faced the Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb.
The championship game lived up to its expectation. The nip and
tuck battle was won by Gardner-Webb 81-79. After erasing a five
pc nt Gardner-Webb half-time lead, the two continued the "pressure
ciioker ” until the final buzzer. Kershaw led all scorers with 24 points.
Carter added 20 and Holmgaard 19. The Abbey played very well in a
game that could have gone either way.
Billy Holmgaard and Imwrence Carter were named to the WBTV
Carolina Classic All-Tournament Team. This was the second time
Holmgaard, a junior who played his high school basketball in
Westwood, NJ, had been honored. Carter, a senior from Halifax,
displayed fine poise and leadership along with long range shooting
during the tournament.
44
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20
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24
53
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35
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'^10^
Seated, left to right, are Jere Campbell,
Lawrence Carter, Stan Parker, Mike Littlejohn,
Jamie Tomlinson. Standing, left to right, are head
coach Bobby Hussey, David Kershaw, Greg
Howard, Greg Leslie, Reggie Holmes, John
Picinich, Jimmy Crawford, Billy Holmgaard and
assistant coach Lin Hoiloweil.
1978-79
Basketball Schedule
Friday, December 29
Augusta Tournament
Augusta. GA.
Saturday, December 30
Augusta Tournament
Augusta, GA.
Wednesday, January 3
Elon
Burlington. N.C.
Saturday, January 6
Catawba
Home
Tuesday, January 9
Livingstone
Salisburv. N.C.
Saturday, January 13
Central Wesleyan
Home
Monday, January 15
Wingate
Away 8 p.m.
Wednesday, January 17
UNC-Asheville
Home
Saturday, January 20
Atlantic Christian
Wilson. N.C.
Monday, January 22
Livingstone
Home
Thursday, January 25
Catawba
Salisbury. N.C.
Saturday, January 27
Atlantic Christian
Home
Monday, January 29
Elon
Home
Saturday, February 3
Wingate
Home
Thursday, February 8
Lenoir Rhyne
Home
Saturday, February 10
Augusta
Home
Monday, February 12
Pfeiffer
Home
Wednesday, February 14
Barber-Scotia
Concord. N.C.
Saturday, February 17
UNC-Asheville
Asheville. N.C.
Thursday, February 22
Lenoir Rhyne
Away
All home games begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Wheeler Center.
//
Senior Jimmy Crawford
game.
in action during an early season home
Are Abbey
Basketball Scores
In Your
Area Papers?
During the basketball season
“out of state” alumni tell us
that the Belmont Abbey College
basketball game scores are not
appearing in their area
newspapers. The game scores
are sent to both the UPI (United
Press International) and AP
(Associated Press). If the
Abbey scores are not appearing
in your area newspaper, it is
probably because the sports
editor is choosing not to use the
Abbey scores. A few phone calls
from area alumni expressing
interest in the printing of the
Belmont Abbey College scores
could change that.