WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 12, 2019) -- The King's College men's basketball team used a 48-36 halftime lead to surpass the 100-point mark, defeating Penn State Worthington Scranton, 109-99. The Monarchs improve to 2-0 for the first time since the 2016-2017 season as five totaled double-digit point totals.

In a game that saw both teams in early foul trouble, the Monarchs were able to outlast the struggles. King's also overcame an early 11-5 lead by the Nittany Lions to tie the score, 14-14, at the 12:50 mark in the first half. Both teams traded baskets as they would tie the game again at 24 before the Monarchs used an 13-3 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game, 37-27, with 5:18 left in the half. The Monarchs led by as much as 15 before posting the halftime score, 48-36.

The Monarch lead continued to grow to as much as 23, 81-58, off a layup by senior Andrew Hudak with 10:08 remaining in the game. The Nittany Lions continued to fight despite more second-half foul trouble, inching within single-digits, 97-88, on a pair of free throws by Matt Dessoye, en route to his 34-point effort, with 1:09 left. Penn State Scranton was forced to implement their full-court press and foul, allowing the Monarchs to score layups in transition and connect on free throws down the stretch before posting the final, 109-99.

Freshman Tyler Faux led the Monarchs offense with a team-high 26 points, adding three boards, three assists, and two steals. Senior Josh Bailey totaled 19 points, shooting 6-for-9 from the floor, with five rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Patrick Galvin scored a career-high 19 points off the bench. Hudak and  freshman Camden Boris each flirted with double-doubles as Hudak recorded 12 points with nine rebounds and four assists and Boris totaled a career-high 11 points with eight boards.

As a team, the Monarchs shot 41.3 percent for the game while connecting for 33.3 percent on three-point attempts. They also shot 76.9 percent from the free throw line. On the boards, the Monarchs pulled down 56 rebounds, and dished out 24 assists on 33 field goals and adding 13 steals. The King's bench out-scored the Penn State Scranton bench, 47-26, and the Monarchs held the advantage on points in the paint, 40-26, and fast break points, 31-14.

The Monarchs are back in action this weekend as they travel to Susquehanna University for the Trailways Tip Off Tournament as they face the host Riverhawks on Friday night at 8:00 p.m. King's will then face Rowan University or Lehman College on Saturday afternoon.