WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 11, 2020) -- Despite trailing by just six points at the half, the King's College Monarchs dropped their second straight Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) contest to DeSales University, 76-59, Saturday afternoon. The Monarchs fall to 6-6 overall (0-2 MAC Freedom) while the Bulldogs improve to 9-4 overall (2-0 MAC Freedom).

After DeSales hit the first basket of the game, King's answered to take a four-point lead off a jumper by senior Josh Bailey and a three by sophomore JJ Glinsky. The Monarchs continued to lead by as much as five, 14-9, with 15:23 to play in the first half before a three by Matt Kachelries tied the game at 17 with 10:17 left. DeSales was able to maintain their lead, taking a seven-point advantage at several points throughout the half, but King's was able to fight their way back each time before posting the halftime score, 41-35.

The Bulldogs opened the second half on a 12-4 run to hold a 14-point advantage with 13:58 to go and never looked back from there as they out-scored the Monarchs 35-24 in the second half to post the final, 76-59.

Bailey led the offense with 17 points on 6-7 shooting. Junior Brad Kalinowski was the otherr Monarch to record double-digits tonight, totaling 10 points on 4-7 shooting, adding four rebounds. Sophomore Jake Pawliczak led the team with nine rebounds and three assists, and senior Tyler Millan also totaled three assists in his first game back since November 16.

King's totaled 37.9 percent shooting for the game (22-58), while totaling 35 reb ounds, 13 assists, and three steals off 13 Bulldogs turnovers. The Monarchs held the advantage in points in the paint (22-18), second-chance points (14-8), and got 23 points from their bench in the loss.

Freshman Jordan Holmqvist came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs with 18 points on 6-10 shooting from three, and junior Matt Kacelries totaled 16 points and added a team-high seven assists. Senior Alex House was the other DeSales to tootal double-digits with 11 points, while sophomore Keba Mitchell led the team with six rebounds.

The Monarchs have a quick turnaround as they are set to host Marywood University in a make-up non-conference game on Monday night before hosting conference newcomer Stevens in a doubleheader with the women on Wednesday,  January 15 at 6:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.