JANUARY 26, 2013

MONARCH MEN DROP SECOND STRAIGHT GAME TO DESALES

CENTER VALLEY -- The King's College men's basketball team was unable to make a three-point half-time lead stand up as host DeSales University outscored the Monarchs 47-32 in the second half to post a 73-61 Freedom Conference victory Saturday in Center Valley.

With the win, King's dropped its second straight game, slipping to 8-11 overall and 3-5 in Freedom Conference play. DeSales meanwhile, improved to 16-3 overall and remained perfect in league competition with a 8-0 mark.

The Monarchs mustered a 29-26 half-time lead on the strength of eight points each from Kyle Hammonds and Ian Oakley. But DeSales quickly gained the lead in the second half. The Monarchs, though, remained in striking range and never trailed by more than six points before tying the game at 50-50 on a Matt Fiorinio three-pointer with 6:52 remaining

After the Bulldogs extended the score to 54-50 with 5:44 to go, the Monarchs answered with a three-pointer by Joe Caffrey and a short jump from Pat O'Donnell to give Kng's a 55-54 lead, its first since 18:54 of the second half.

The lead was short-lived however, as Andrew Kohler countered with a three-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 57-55 lead at the 4:03 mark. Hammonds was whistled for a foul on the inbounds pass just 0:01 later and Brett Moyer made one-of-two attempts to push the score to 58-55.

King's would committ costly turnovers on its next two possessions and DeSales took advantage. Paul Pammer hit on a three-pointer with 3:09 to play to give the Bulldogs a 61-55 lead. Forced to foul, DeSales made 6-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Caffrey paced King's with 16 points while Tom Heston added 15 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Oakley and Hammonds both finished with eight while Fiorino tallied six points. Oakley chipped in a team-high five assists.

Moyer led DeSales with 13 points and nine rebounds while Jake Hungarter followed with 12 points. Kyle Hash chipped in with 11 points and five boards.

The Monarchs return to action Wednesday with a 8:00 p.m. home matchup with Eastern University in Scandlon Gym.