DECEMBER 27, 2017

KING'S MEN'S BASKETBALL SET TO COMPETE IN LYCOMING TOURNEY, WILL FACE CARNEGIE MELLON IN OPENING ROUND

WILKES-BARRE — The King's College men's basketball team will look to shake off the effects of the Holiday season when the Monarchs return to the court Friday to compete in the Louis Fleming Basinger Memorial Tournament at Lycoming College.

King's will open up the event against Carnegie Mellon University of Pittsburgh at 8:00 PM. Host Lycoming will face SUNY-New Paltz in the opening contest at 6:00 PM. Play will continue Saturday with the consolation game at 1:00 PM with the championship game to follow at 3:00 PM

Live Video (All Games):  http://athletics.lycoming.edu/sports/2016/8/26/Boxcast_0427F1.aspx

LiveStats (All Games):  http://www.sidearmstats.com/lycoming/mbball/

The Monarchs will enter the event with a 4-5 record after placing second at King's own FNCB Bank/Monarch Classic December 8-9. King's defeated Penn State Hazleton in the first round before falling to Lynchburg College in the title game. Carnegie Mellon, meanwhile, stands at 3-5 on the year and comes off a 89-75 loss to Hobart College on December 9.

King's and Carnegie Mellon have only played each other once previously, that coming in the 2011 Monarch Classic where the Tartans posted a thrilling 112-106 double-overtime victory in Scandlon Gymnasium.

In the other opening round pairing, host Lycoming, the ninth-ranked team nationally in NCAA Division III stands at 11-0 after posting a 82-69 victory over Marywood University on December 17. New Paltz stands at 3-5 thus far and comes off a 83-75 victory over Western Connecticut on December 12.

King's has been paced by senior guard Connor Callejas who tops the squad with 17.9 points per-game while adding 26 three-pointers. Senior forward Chris Fazzini follows with 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds while sophomore guard Tyler Millan adds 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 14 three-pointers. Freshman guard Noah Tanner contributes 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while sophomore forward Tony Maloney has tallied 6.8 points, 3.9 boards, and 16 three-pointers.  Sophomore guard Joshua Bailey has posted 6.4 points and 2.6 rebounds, while junior forward James Willis chips in with 6.4 points and 2.9 boards.  King's is averaging 82.2 points while allowing 87.0 points each contest.

Carnegie Mellon is led by senior guard Ryan Maha with 12.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 21 three-pointers. Sophomore guard Colin McNeil follows with 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while sophomore guard Zach Howarth adds 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and seven three-pointers. Junior 6-foot-8 center Patrick Ehland contributes 9.4 points and 6.8 rebounds while junior forward Seth Henry chips in with 7.8 points. The Tartans average 70.3 points while allowing 72.4 each contest.

For Lycoming, senior forward Chris Wallace tops the squad with averages of 13.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per-game. Senior guard Alex Newbold follows with 10.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while junior guard T.J. Duckett also adds 10.9 points with 2.4 rebounds and a team-high 28 three-pointers. Junior Darius James contributes 9.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while freshman forward Ramadan Jennings chips in with 7.5 points and 2.9 boards. The Warriors average 84.2 points while allowing 69.5 per-game.

New Paltz is led by Dylan Balducci with 13.7 points with 21 three-pointers. Brandon Guest follows with 9.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while Kevin Coyle adds 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Nick Paquette contributes 8.7 points and 4/6 rebounds with 20 three-pointers while Tristan Wisseman chips in with 7.4 points and 3.0 boards.  The Hawks average 73.4 points while allowing 80.1 each game.

Following the event King's will return to the court on January 3 when the Monarchs open MAC Freedom Conference play with a 6:00 PM home matchup against Delaware Valley University.