KING'S MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS 61-53 SETBACK AT MUHLENBERG
ALLENTOWN, PA – Spencer Liddic scored a game-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds to lead host Muhlenberg College to a 61-53 win over visiting King's College Monday night in non-conference action.
With the loss King's slips to 2-2 overall on the young season. Muhlenberg sees its overall mark improve to 4-1 following the win.
The first half was a see-saw battle as each team struggled to find their offensive rhythm early. King's took their first lead of the game at 14-13 midway through the half when rookie forward Chris Hobson scored inside. Fellow freshman guard Joe Caffrey extended the lead to five with a jumper on the next possession, before a Kyle Hammonds score gave the Monarchs their largest lead of the game at 24-17 with 4:22 left. From there, Muhlenberg answered with a 10-2 run of their own as the Mules took a 26-25 advantage to the break. King's finished the half shooting just 31.3 percent (10-32) from the field, while Muhlenberg was not much better shooting 35.7 (10-28) from the floor.
King's raised the defensive pressure to begin the second frame, taking back the lead following a Dan Maguschak layup in transition. The lead swelled to six at 32-26 with 17:11 remaining after a deep trey from Hammonds. Muhlenberg had an answer again, this time in the form of Spencer Liddic as the junior forward scored three times in the post to tie the game at 41-41 with 10:01 left in the contest. In the next five minutes of play the Mules slowly added to their lead with an 8-0 run, mostly from the charity stripe. Liddic went 4-of-4 from the line during the run as the hosts extended their lead to 53-45 with just over three minutes to play. Two deep three-pointers from Nick Reisig cut the deficit to four at 57-53 with 39 seconds left, but the Mules cashed in on every opportunity from the foul line late to seal the non-conference victory.
Hammonds led King's with 10 points and five rebounds, the only Monarch to reach double figures. Kevin Conroy, Kyle Stackhouse, and Reisig added eight points each.
Liddic went 9-for-13 from the floor and 6-of-14 from the free throw line in the contest. Austin Curry joined Liddic in double figures finishing with 17 points and three rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting. The Mules had their way inside throughout, holding a 45-35 advantage on the boards.
King's returns to action Wednesday when the Monarchs begin their Freedom Conference slate at Eastern University. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. in St. David's, Pa.
MUHLENBERG 61, KING'S COLLEGE 53
KING'S COLLEGE (2-2)
Kyle Hammonds 4-9 1-2 10; Kevin Conroy 4-15 0-0 8; Nick Reisig 3-7 0-0 8; Kyle Stackhouse 2-6 4-6 8; Dan Maguschak 2-8 2-2 6; Matt Fiorino 2-7 0-0 5; Chris Hobson 2-7 0-0 4; Mike McCready 1-3 0-0 2; Joe Caffrey 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 21-67 7-10 53.
MUHLENBERG (4-1)
Spencer Liddic 9-13 6-14 24; Austin Curry 5-11 4-4 17; James Albano 3-6 0-0 6; Evan Tozer 2-6 0-0 5; Justin Greenstone 2-8 0-0 4; Timmy Harwood 1-2 1-1 3; Matt O'Hara 0-0 2-2 2; Rob Berish 0-3 0-0 0; Hunter Forsman 0-0 0-0 0; David Gwyn 0-2 0-0 0; Kevin Hargrove 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-53 13-21 61.
King's College................ 25 28 - 53
Muhlenberg.................... 26 35 - 61
3-point goals--King's College 4-21 (Nick Reisig 2-3; Matt Fiorino 1-6; Kyle Hammonds 1-4; Dan Maguschak 0-3; Chris Hobson 0-3; Joe Caffrey 0-2), Muhlenberg 4-18 (Austin Curry 3-7; Evan Tozer 1-3; Justin Greenstone 0-3; Timmy Harwood 0-1; Rob Berish 0-1; David Gwyn 0-2; Spencer Liddic 0-1). Fouled out--King's College-Mike McCready, Muhlenberg-None. Rebounds--King's
College 35 (Kyle Stackhouse 8), Muhlenberg 45 (Spencer Liddic 10). Assists--King's College 13 (Kyle Stackhouse 6), Muhlenberg 14 (Justin Greenstone 4). Total fouls--King's College 17, Muhlenberg 12. Technical fouls--King's College-None, Muhlenberg-None. A-241
