DECEMBER 15, 2008
KING'S MEN'S CAGERS RALLY FALLS SHORT AGAINST ALVERNIA
WILKES-BARRE – The King's College men's basketball team nearly overcame a 13-point halftime deficit but a second-half rally fell just short as the Monarchs fell to visiting Alvernia College 69-66 Monday in Scandlon Gymnasium.
With the loss, King's dropped its fourth straight game to see its overall mark slip to 4-4, while falling to 0-3 in Freedom Conference play. Alvernia, meanwhile, improved to 4-4 and 2-1.
Alvernia came out of the gates on fire in the first half, shooting 53.1 (17-32) percent from the floor while making five three-pointers to build a 41-28 lead at the break.
In the second-half, however, the Monarchs switched to a zone defense that Alvernia would find difficulty matching up with. King's managed to chip away at the lead and outscored the Crusaders 21-8 to eventually tie the score at 49-49 with 8:53 left in the contest.
After Charles Hughes hit a jumper to give Alvernia a 52-49 lead, the Monarchs used a 4-0 surge to forge ahead 53-52 with 7:34 remaining after inside baskets by Kevin Conroy and Jim Schule. Alvernia later recapture the lead and built a 57-53 lead on a three-pointer by Tim Walters at the 6:40 mark.
King's manage to tie the score four times over the next six minutes, the last coming at 64-64 with 1:15 on the clock following a pair of foul shots from Chase McGowan, But the Crusaders would come up big when David Washington drilled a three-pointer with 1:00 left to give Alvernia a 67-64 advantage.
King's missed out on its next two opportunities with a missed shot and a turnover, but managed to cut the lead to 67-66 on a layup by Schule with 0:22 on the clock. But Alvernia beat the King's full-court press and stretched the lead to 69-66 when Eric Barefield was fouled making a layup and converted the subsequent free throw to complete a traditional three-point play with 0:12 on the clock.
The Monarchs had one last chance but Washington partially blocked a three-pointer by Mike Wagner from the right win with 0:01 remaining to seal the victory.
Conroy paced King's with 18 points and two assists. Schule followed with 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists while Wagner tallied 11 points, five rebounds, and two assists while making three three-pointers.
Alvernia was led by Jeff Amponsah who posted 18 points. Tyrone Bradley followed with 15 points and 15 rebounds while Washington tallied 12 points and six rebounds.
King's will close out the first semester of play Wednesday when the Monarchs travel to face Misericordia University at 8:00 p.m. in Dallas.
ALVERNIA 69, KING'S COLLEGE 66
ALVERNIA (4-4, 2-1 Freedom)
Jeff Amponsah 8-14 0-0 18; Tyrone Bradley 4-10 7-8 15; David Washington 4-10 0-0 12; Eric Barefield 3-6 0-1 6; Tim Walters 1-6 2-2 5; Charlie Hughes 2-8 0-0 5; Derek Dubbs 2-4 0-0 4; Marcel Roane 2-2 0-1 4. Totals 26-60 9-12 69.
KING'S COLLEGE (4-4, 0-3 Freedom)
Alvernia............................ 41 28 - 69
King's College................... 28 38 - 66
3-point goals--Alvernia 8-17 (David Washington 4-7; Jeff Amponsah 2-3; Charlie Hughes 1-5; Tim Walters 1-2), King's College 6-17 (Mike Wagner 3-7; Wil Acevedo 1-1; Eric Brown 1-1; Jim Schule 1-2; Nick Reisig 0-3; Adam Brasky 0-2; Chase McGowan 0-1). Fouled out--Alvernia-Tyrone Bradley, King's College-None. Rebounds--Alvernia 37 (Tyrone Bradley 15), King's College 33 (Mike Wagner 5). Assists--Alvernia 15 (Charlie Hughes 5), King's College 18 (Adam Brasky 3; Kyle Stackhouse 3; Jim Schule 3; Wil Acevedo 3). Total fouls--Alvernia 16, King's College 19. Technical fouls--Alvernia-None, King's College-None. A-150
