WILKES-BARRE, PA (February 16, 2019) – Senior James Willis was honored prior to the final King's College men's basketball game Saturday afternoon against Manhattanville College, but the Monarchs were edged in the end by the Valiants 64-62 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) action from McGrane Gymnasium.

Willis, along with the seven Monarch Dancers and once King's College cheerleader, were thanked for their service to the department in a ceremony just before tip-off. Once the game got started, the energy carried onto the floor but neither team could get much going offensively.

Both squads sputtered but the game stayed tight throughout the period, as King's took a 30-29 lead after a Josh Bailey jumper with 45 seconds to play but Mike Ryan posted a lay-up for Manhattanville to send the game into the intermission with the visiting Valiant up 31-30. The first half featured 12 lead changes and eight tie scores, as sophomore Noah Tanner led King's with eight points.

Manhattanville benefitted in the opening stanza from nine offensive rebounds, which in turn resulted in 13 second-chance points. King's did hold a 9-4 fast break edge, and minimized the turnovers that plagued them in Purchase, NY earlier in the season as King's posted just seven giveaways over the first 20 minutes.

In the second half, the Valiants continued to lead until 14:55 to go in the game when Willis connected on a wing three-pointer to make it 39-37 King's. The Monarchs grew their lead up to five after a three-pointer by freshman JJ Glinsky with just under 13 minutes to go in regulation. King's continued to lead until 11:40, when Mike Granda made a three-pointer to regain the lead for Manhattanville at 46-45.

With the game tied at 48, the Valiants went on a 8-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 56-48 with less than seven minutes to go. The Monarchs wouldn't go away, scoring the next seven points to pull to within one at 56-55 with 5:35 to play in the second half. Back-to-back three-pointers from Granda gave the Valiants another six-point edge.

From that point on, the offences went cold as King's held Manhattanville without another made field goal over the final four minutes. Unfortunately, the Monarchs saw its offense go stagnant as well though King's pulled to within two at 64-62 with 42 seconds to go. After Granda missed a three-pointer with 12 seconds left, King's got the rebound and called timeout. King's would get a shot from three-land from Glinsky the next chance down, but it wouldn't fall and Manhattanville ran the clock out for the win.

Junior Andrew Hudak was the offensive leader for the Monarchs, as he finished with his third double-double of the year with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Bailey chalked up 12 points as well, and Glinsky added seven points off the bench. Joe Lonardi came off the bench to add six points while posting eight boards as well.

Sean Smith totaled 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead Manhattanville, and Granda finished with 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting from behind the arc. Matt Bielenda also finished with 10 points off the bench for the Valiants.