FEBRUARY 21, 2009
MONARCH CAGERS FALL TO EASTERN IN SEASON FINALE
WILKES-BARRE -- The young King's College men's basketball team saw its rebuilding season come to an end as the Monarchs dropped a 57-43 decision to visiting Eastern University Saturday in Scandlon Gymnasium.
With the loss, the Monarchs ended the year with a 11-14 overall record as well as a 3-13 Freedom Conference mark. King's, which lost four starters and graduated eight seniors from its back-to-back Freedom Conference championship squads in 2007 and 2008, missed the post-season for the first time in head coach J.P. Andrejko's eight-year career.
Eastern, meanwhile, improved to 17-8 and 10-6 in league games.
The Monarchs struggled offensively all game, shooting just 38.9 (7-18) percent from the floor in the first half as Eastern built a 30-20 lead at the break. King's fared none better in the second half with a 38.1 (8-21) shooting percentage over the final 20 minutes of play. The Monarchs were also uncommonly careless with the basketball, committing a season-high 20 turnovers in the game, several coming without defensive pressure.
Kevin Conroy topped the squad with 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists to stand as the lone Monarch to reach double-figure points. Jim Schule followed with nine points while Mike Wagner and Harry Schlichter added six points apiece.
Jason Reels topped tre Eagles with 17 points while Martin Soarles and Tyrik Tucker added 12 and 11 points respectively.
EASTERN UNIVERSITY 57, KING'S COLLEGE 43
EASTERN UNIVERSITY (17-8/10-6 Freedom)
Jason Reels 8-14 1-2 17; Martin Soaries 4-10 0-0 12; Tyrik Tucker 5-8 1-1 11; Chris Myers 3-4 0-0 6; Derek Wright 2-8 2-2 6; Jordan Decker 1-3 1-2 3; Don Kaiser 1-2 0-0 2; Tyrone Coleman 0-0 0-0 0; Collin Whipple 0-1 0-0 0; Carlos Pujols 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-51 5-7 57.
KING'S COLLEGE (11-14/3-13 Freedom)
15-39 9-13 43.
Eastern University............ 30 27 - 57
King's College.................. 20 23 - 43
3-point goals--Eastern University 4-13 (Martin Soaries 4-6; Tyrik Tucker 0-2; Derek Wright 0-1; Jordan Decker 0-1; Jason Reels 0-3), King's College 4-9 (Mike Wagner 2-3; Jim Schule 1-1; Nick Reisig 1-1; Adam Brasky 0-1; Bill Joyce 0-2; Kirk Fallon 0-1). Fouled out--Eastern University-None, King's College-None. Rebounds--Eastern University 27 (Jason Reels 9), King's College 28 (Tim Sanderson 5). Assists--Eastern University 16 (Martin Soaries 7), King's College 10 (Kevin Conroy 3). Total fouls--Eastern University 11, King's College 13. Technical fouls--Eastern University-None, King's
College-None. A-575
