WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 29, 2022) -- Last second chances fell short as the King's College men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 67-65 decision to the visiting Delaware Valley University Aggies in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) action on Saturday afternoon in McGrane Gymnasium. The Monarchs fall to 6-10 for the season, 2-8 in MAC Freedom contest, while the Aggies improve to 11-7 overall, 5-4 in conference play.

The opening minutes of this 40-minute fight saw plenty of back-and-forth action as the teams were tied at 16 with 11:04 left in the half off a free throw from senior JJ Glinsky. After six straight points from Delaware Valley (11-7, 5-4 MAC Freedom), the Monarchs answered with a 7-2 run that pulled them within one, 24-23, on a pair of free throws from senior Noah Tanner. The teams traded baskets down the stretch with the Aggies holding a 35-30 advantage heading into the locker room.

King's (6-10, 2-8 MAC Freedom) tied the game in the opening possessions of the second half. The Monarchs kept the Aggies within four points throughout the half before tying the game at 46 with 11:30 left on a three from Glinsky. King's then took the lead, 48-47, off a layup from first year Patrick Bennie on their next offensive possession, but the Aggies had an answer after the teams traded points as they took a 65-57 advantage with 3:32 remaining. Seven consecutive points from the Monarchs pulled them within one, 65-64, with 57 second to go, but out of the timeout the Aggies hit a three to rebuild their lead.

The Monarchs had a chance out of the Aggies timeout with 11 ticks left on the game clock, but Delaware Valley fouled sophomore Carmine Casitello who hit one-of-two from the charity stripe. King's fouled to put the Aggies on the line, and a missed free throw and quick timeout gave the hosts one more chance to tie the game. The Monarchs could not convert on their final possession of the game, and Delaware Valley ran out the final ticks to hand the Monarchs the heartbreaking 67-65 loss.

Tanner led three Monarchs in double figures with 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting and three assists. Castiello added 10 points with five rebounds and team-bests of four assists and four steals. Bennie came off the bench as the other Monarch in double figures with 10 points, adding five rebounds, while sophomore Peri Basimakopoulos pulled down a team-high six boards.

Matt Paulus led the Aggies with a game-high 20 points with five threes, adding six rebounds and a team-best five assists, while Pernell Ghee totaled 13 points with a team-high seven boards.

King's shot a solid 37.7 percent (20-53) form the field and 31.6 percent from three, hitting six threes. The Monarchs held the advantage on the boards, out rebounding the Aggies 37-35, and they shared the ball well as they dished out 14 assists on 20 made field goals. Inside the box score, King's edged out the Aggies in points off turnovers (11-7), bench points (24-16), and fast break points (6-2).

The Monarchs return to play on Wednesday evening as they host the Warriors of Lycoming College in the night cap of the MAC Freedom doubleheader. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.