KING'S MEN'S BASKETBALL SET FOR PNC/RAMADA INN CLASSIC; FACE POTSDAM STATE IN OPENING ROUND FRIDAY
WILKES-BARRE – The King's College men's basketball team is set to host the annual PNC/Ramada Inn Classic Friday and Saturday in Scandlon Gymnasium. The two-day tournament will see King's host three out-of-state teams in non-league action. In the opening round of the tournament Salisbury University (Md.) faces Brooklyn College (N.Y.) at 6:00 p.m. The Monarchs entertain Potsdam State (N.Y.) at 8:00 p.m. in the nightcap.
On Saturday, the consolation game will tip-off at 1:00 p.m. with the championship game to follow at 3:00 p.m. An All-Tournament team will be announced shortly after the conclusion of the championship game.
Livestats will be available for all games throughout the tournament at the following link:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/kings/mbball/index.htm
WRKC will also broadcast each King's game at the following link:
http://wrkc.kings.edu/list/current.html
Check out the live web cam at http://webcam.kings.edu/view/viewer_index.shtml?id=30
King's Tournament Notes
King's enters the tournament with a 3-4 overall record after a solid 83-55 win against Penn State Hazleton on Tuesday. Senior forward Kevin Conroy (Chatham, NJ, Chatham) leads the Monarch attack averaging 15.9 points and 5.1 rebounds, shooting 46.9 percent (38-81) from the floor. Conroy has scored in double figures in all but one game this season, including a season-high 21 points in King's opening win against Bridgewater State. Rookie guard Kyle Hammonds (Rosemont, PA, Radnor) has enjoyed a fine start to his collegiate career posting 8.0 points and 2.4 rebounds. Junior point-guard Kyle Stackhouse (Malvern, PA, Great Valley) averages 7.9 points, 3.8 assists, and a team-high 7.7 rebounds running the show for the Monarchs. Sophomore guard Matt Fiorino (North Brunswick, NJ, Bishop Ahr), who recently was inserted into the starting lineup, has provided a scoring punch for King's adding 7.6 points with nine treys. Junior guard Nick Reisig (Richboro, PA, CR North) contributes 6.0 points and 4.3 rebounds with six three-pointers, while sophomore guard Dan Maguschak (Beaver Meadows, PA, Hazleton Area) posts 5.7 points and 2.6 rebounds. Sophomore forward Mike McCready (Bethlehem, PA, Freedom) has been steady in the paint for King's averaging 5.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in seven games played. The Monarchs average 64.7 points per-game, while yielding 63.0 points each tilt. King's has never faced any three of the teams in the tournament in the program's 63-year existence.
Potsdam State Tournament Notes
Potsdam State enters the tournament with a 2-4 overall mark after suffering a 70-48 defeat against St. Lawrence on Tuesday. The Bears are led by sophomore guard Curtis Pierce averaging 11.7 points and 8.7 rebounds, shooting 52.9 percent (27-51) from the field. Senior guard Anthony Williams follows with 11.4 points and 7.4 rebounds, connecting on 80.0 percent (16-20) of his free throws. Junior guard Skip Schwartz adds 8.7 points, canning 15-of-31 (48.4 percent) shots from behind the arc. Junior forward Brad Drysdale chips in 8.3 points, while freshman forward Rob Duquette contributes 8.2 points and 2.7 rebounds each contest. The Bears average 64.8 points per-game, while allowing 68.5 points each contest.
Salisbury Tournament Notes
Salisbury boasts the best record of the four schools in the tournament standing 4-4 overall on the season following a 68-49 victory against Marymount University on Wednesday. Senior center Chris McGrew tops the squads offensively averaging 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds, shooting 63.0 percent (51-81) from three-point range. Senior guard David Pearman follows with 12.9 points and 5.0 rebounds, connecting on 35.3 percent (18-51) from long distance. Junior forward Mike Maczko adds 10.0 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds, going 23-for-28 from the charity stripe through eight games. Senior guard Eric Johnson posts 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds, while junior point-guard Devin Posey runs the offense averaging 5.6 points and a team-best 3.7 assists. The Sea Gulls average 61.6 points per-game, while allowing 58.2 points each contest.
Brooklyn Tournament Notes
Brooklyn College stands 3-4 overall following a 93-76 loss at the College of Old Westbury on Monday. The Bulldogs are led by junior guard Tyshawn Russell averaging 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Senior guard Ahmad Hemingway follows with 14.6 points and 5.7 rebounds, canning 13-of-34 three-point field goals. Junior guard Amil John adds 13.4 points and 4.0 assists, shooting 43.3 percent (29-67) from the floor. Sophomore forward Steven Grant chips in 8.4 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds in seven games played. The Bulldogs average 72.3 points per-game, while yielding 68.6 points each contest.
What's Next for King's?
After the event, the Monarchs will be idle for Christmas break and will next return to competition January 2-3 with the annual Wilkes-Barre Challenge which will rotate back to cross-town rival Wilkes University this year.
The first day King's faces Curry College at 6:00 p.m. while Wilkes plays Albany Pharmacy at 8:00 p.m. On day-two, King's squares off with Albany Pharmacy at 1:00 p.m. while Wilkes meets Curry at 3:00 p.m..
