Box Score NOVEMBER 15, 2014
KING'S MEN'S BASKETBALL OPENS SEASON WITH 65-57 VICTORY OVER PENN STATE SCRANTONWILKES-BARRE — When King's College men's basketball coach J.P. Andrejko sent his starting line-up out to the floor to face visiting Penn State Scranton Saturday night in the team's season opener, three freshmen, one sophomore and one junior were among the five players to take the floor. The line-up was one of the most inexperienced at King's in recent memory and the Monarchs showed it by struggling to a 65-57 victory in Scandlon Gym.
King's perimeter shooting, expected to be a strength, was off all night but sophomore forward
Dan Rutecki, the2013-14 Freedom Conference "Rookie of the Year" scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to bail out the Monarchs.
King's made only 39.0 (23-59) percent of its shots from the field but the Monarchs were frigid from the three-point line, making just 7.7 (1-13) percent for the game. King's also benefitted from its inside game, going 18-of-24 from the charity stripe, paced by Rutecki who was 10-of-11 from the foul line. Rutecki also contributed a team-high three assists on the night.
Freshman
Chris Fazzini posted 10 points with six rebounds and two assists in his collegiate debut with the Monarchs. Sophomore Derek Wikins natted eight rebounds while freshman Dan Borner also added eight points with two assists.
Nate Oliver netted six points,
Connor Hughes tallied five points, while
Tom Heston chipped in with three points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
Defensively, King's forced the Lions into 22 turnovers while committing just 10.
Penn State Scranton was led by Hasiin Dixon with 16 points while Levert Comas and Jon Devine chipped in with 14 and 11 points respectively.
King's returns to the court Monday night with a 7:00 p.m. matchup with Penn State Hazleton.
