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BELMONT, NC – Daylan Askew’s last second heave rattled in-and-out as Belmont Abbey handed the Chowan men’s basketball team an 84-83 loss on the road in Conference Carolinas action here Monday night.

Christian Koonce led the Hawks with 21 points. Jay Estime and Preston Le Gassick chipped in with 19 points each.

Estime scored his 1,000th career point (UNC Wilmington and Chowan) during the loss.

Cheick Troare hauled in 13 rebounds to lead the defense.

Trailing 79-74 late in the second half, Chowan rallied as Etime hit a three-pointer. Le Gassick converted a pair from the stripe to even the score at 79-all with 1:48 remaining. After a free throw by the Crusaders, Koonce hit a deep two to flip the lead back to Chowan, 81-80.

Belmont Abbey countered with a driving layup, before Estime hit a pull-up jumper from the corner.

The Crusaders answered with a pair from the stripe to go up 84-83 with nine seconds remaining.

Askew nearly had his last second heave go in as the Hawks were unable to secure the victory.

The first half was a series of offensive runs by both teams.

Trailing 9-3, Veigar Alexandersson hit a floater before Le Gassick knocked down a trey to put the Hawks in front 13-12. Isaac Hippolyte added a layup following a Le Gassick steal. Koonce joined the scoring with a floater to keep the Hawks in front, 17-14.

Later in the half, Belmont Abbey used an 11-2 run to build a 39-36 halftime lead.

Koonce started the scoring in the second half with a jumper. Askew connected from deep to even the score at 41-all. Askew added to the total with a free throw before a pair of baskets by Hippolyte to offset the points by the Crusaders.

Le Gassick knocked down a three-pointer to close the slim deficit to one, 50-49. Alexandersson hit a triple as BAC stayed ahead at the charity stripe. Koonce and Le Gassick added a layup to keep pace with the Crusaders.

Belmont Abbey extended their lead before Estime hit a triple along with a pair of free throws by Koonce. Traore picked up a point at the stripe prior to Koonce knocking down the trey and the freebie for the four-point play to take the lead 66-64.

After both teams traded baskets, Belmont Abbey used a 10-1 run to take a 79-74 lead.

Chowan (8-7 overall; 6-4 in league play) hits the road to take on the Bobcats of Lees-McRae on Saturday, Jan. 21. Tip-off is slated for 4 pm.