WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 14, 2018) – The Monarch men's basketball team will look to get in the win column this weekend, traveling to Susquehanna University for the Susquehanna Trailways Tip-Off Tournament. The Monarchs will take on host Susquehanna University Friday at 8 p.m. in non-conference action, taking part in either the consolation or championship games Saturday at either 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. against Grove City or Oneonta.

Event Details
Opponent: vs. Susquehanna University (0-1)
Date: Friday, November 16, 2018
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Selinsgrove, PA at Susquehanna University – OW Houts Gymnasium (Directions)
Live Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

Opponent: vs. Grove City College OR Oneonta State
Date: Saturday, November 17, 2018
Time: 1 p.m. OR 3 p.m.
Location: Selinsgrove, PA at Susquehanna University – OW Houts Gymnasium (Directions)
Live Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

Last Time Out: The visiting Mules of Muhlenberg College used an 8-0 run midway through the second half to take a 10-point lead, pulling away for a 62-53 non-conference victory over the hosting King's College men's basketball team in the home opener from McGrane Gymnasium in Scandlon Physical Education Center.

James Willis came off the bench to provide a spark for the Monarchs, scoring a team-best 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, knocking own 2-of-4 from deep. Joe Lonardi added 10 points and six rebounds for King's and Pawliczak finished with eight points, three steals and a game-best 12 rebounds. Sophomore Noah Tanner also posted eight points, three assists and three rebounds, as the Monarchs shot 30.7 percent (21-of-73) from the floor, including making three of their 22 attempts from deep.

A Look At The Monarchs (0-2):

• The Monarchs saw a spark off the bench on Tuesday evening, as James Willis posted 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting in his first action of the season.
• King's leads the MAC Freedom so far this season in turnover margin, forcing opposition into 6.5 more turnovers per game than its commits.
• Sophomore Noah Tanner has posted 8.5 points per game, while leading the team with five assists on the season.
• Freshman post player Jake Pawliczak leads the team with 9.5 rebound per game this season, which ranks fifth in the MAC Freedom after a pair of contests.
• After going scoreless in the season opener, Joe Lonardi chalked up 10 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes of play against Muhlenberg College.
• Junior Josh Bailey has played the most minutes of any Monarch this season, as has five assists and three steals.
• The Monarchs haven't caught quite fire from deep as of yet, making 8-of-45 from behind the arc, which comes out to 17.8 percent.
• King's will look to raise its free throw percentage over at Susquehanna, as the Monarchs are hitting only 47.2 percent from the charity stripe.
• The Monarch defense has been pretty sound so far this year, allowing only 67 points per game which ranks third in the MAC Freedom thus far.
• Freshman Patrick Galvin is tied for third in the MAC Freedom in thefts with six, while his 3.0 steals per game is tied for the most per game.

A Look At The Tournament Field:

• The host River Hawks of Susquehanna dropped their season opener at Arcadia University 79-58.
• Susquehanna was slated to finish fifth in the Landmark Conference Preseason Poll, posting 38 points in the poll.
• Joel Norris led the offensive unit for the River Hawks in only 12 minutes, as he posted 16 points off the bench for SU. Bryce Butler added 15 points in the loss at Arcadia for the River Hawks.
• Zach Knecht finished with a team-high seven rebounds, while Tyler Hoagland added four assists to lead the River Hawks.
• Susquehanna finished 10-14 last season, under the direction of now 30^th year head coach Frank Marcinek.
• Grove City College dropped its season opener at Hilbert College, falling 77-74 on the road to the Eagles. The Wolverines are coming off a 16-win season in 2017-18, under the tutelage of 21^st year head coach Steve Lamie.
• Junior guard Nate Peters and sophomore guard Justice Rice return in the backcourt while junior center James Wells anchors a youthful frontcourt. Peters averaged 7.0 points per game last season, while Rice added 9.4 points and 6.0 boards a game in 2017-18.
• Grove City was slated fourth in the PAC Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll, earning 49 points while earning one first-place vote.
• Junior James Wells went off in the loss at Hilbert, posting 24 points while adding 10 rebounds on 60 percent shooting. Isaac Williams added 11 points as well for the Wolverines.
• Oneonta opened its 2018-19 season with a 91-73 win over Keystone College, as Sean Nolan posted a game-high 20 points for the Red Dragons.
• The Red Dragons are third after one game in field goal percentage at 45.8 percent, while leading the SUNYAC in rebounding with 58.0.
• Oneonta finished last season with a 14-14 record, going 8-10 in the SUNYAC, earning the sixth and final spot in the postseason SUNYAC Tournament.
• Head coach Cameron Conover now in his third season at Oneonta, played his collegiate basketball at Division II USC-Aiken.

Against The Tournament Field: King's is 28-19 all-time against Susquehanna after last year's win at the Susquehanna Trailways Tournament. The win for King's over the River Hawks was its first since 2014. King's 9-2 against Oneonta all time, with the last meeting coming in 1972, a 109-69 win over the Red Dragons. The Monarchs have never played Grove City College.