Saint Augustine's University hosts Belmont Abbey College in a non-conference men's basketball game on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. The contest begins at 7 p.m. at Emery Gymnasium in Raleigh, N.C.
Records
The Falcons are 2-0 overall. Belmont Abbey is 1-1.
Media Coverage
Live Stats Link - http://hbculivestats.com/staug/mbball/
Season Series
The Falcons are 2-0 against the Crusaders since 1980.
Story Line
The Falcons will attempt to begin the season with three straight wins. The last time the Falcons started 3-0 was the 2007-08 season when they won their first six games. This is the home opener for the Falcons.
Last Meeting vs. Belmont Abbey
Guard Raheem Jolliffe scored 20 points and Anthony Gaskins finished with 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Falcons put on a three-point shooting exhibition in a 93-65 victory over Belmont Abbey at The Wheeler Center on Dec. 17, 2014. Guard Keith Crawford added 12 points and forward Quincy January chipped in 11 points including two thunderous dunks. The Falcons knocked down 11 of 21 three-pointers for 52 percent to run away from the Crusaders. Gaskins and Crawford made the bulk of the threes as both players were 4-for-6 behind the arc.
About the Falcons' Head Coach
MarQus Johnson is in his second season as the Falcons' head men's basketball coach. In his first season, Johnson coached guard Raheem Jolliffe to All-CIAA honors and forward Quincy January to CIAA Rookie of the Year honors and a spot on the All-CIAA Rookie Team. Johnson was elevated to head coach after two seasons as assistant men's basketball coach for the Falcons from 2012 to 2014. He was previously an assistant coach at Saint Augustine's University from 2008 to 2010. In the 2009-10 season, Johnson helped direct the Falcons to their second CIAA championship in school history. That squad advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament and earned a national top 25 ranking.
Last Game
Forward Marquis Hines (Sr./Fayetteville, NC) scored 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting to lead a trio of double figure scorers as the Falcons took a season-opening 77-71 victory over Glenville State College in the Trojan Tip-Off Classic in Ettrick, Va., on Nov. 13, 2015. Guard Keith Crawford (Sr./Richmond, VA) added 14 points, nine assists and two steals, and forward Quincy January (So./Atlanta, GA) chipped in 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting for the Falcons, who led nearly the entire second half. January scored 16 points and corralled 10 rebounds as the Falcons capped a successful weekend with a 60-50 victory over Slippery Rock University in the Trojan Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 14, 2015. Crawford added 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Falcons. Guard Jeremy Saunders (Jr./Hampton, Va.) contributed 10 points including 2-for-4 three-point shooting.
About Belmont Abbey
Guard Deion Lane leads three players in double-figure scoring with a 20-point average. Guard Nick Hough averages 14 points and Drexler Clark averages 10.5 points. Martin Unger is in his second season as head coach of the Crusaders, who defeated Mars Hill College 81-77 on Nov. 13 and lost to Wingate University 95-68 on Nov. 14. Lane scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the win against Mars Hill.
