CLARKS SUMMIT, PA (November 21, 2022) -- Sophomore Chris Patton put on a performance for the crowd in Huckaby Gymnasium on Monday night, but his efforts as well as the three other Monarchs in double figures fell short as the King's College men's basketball team dropped an 86-76 contest at Clarks Summit University. The Monarchs now fall to 3-2 overall, while the Defenders improve to 1-6.
 
Both teams came out firing as the shoot out commenced. The game saw 11 lead changes and eight ties in the opening half as neither team led by more than six points over the first 20 minutes with Clarks Summit (1-6) on top, 44-41, heading into the break.
 
King's (3-2) and Clarks Summit each had spurts throughout the half as the offensive battle ensued in the second half. Five more ties and four more lead changes saw King's on top, 66-65, on a three from senior Tyler Faux with 8:33 to go in regulation, but a 9-1 Defenders run saw the Monarchs trailing, 74-67, with 5:50 left.
 
Patton would tack on the next four points in the game, but Clarks Summit remained steady at the charity stripe, connecting for 3-of-4 before adding on another fast break layup to see the King's deficit increase to 79-71 with 4:07 on the game clock.
 
The Monarchs would close within three one last time, 79-76, behind a pair of free throws from first year JJ Walsh and another three from Faux, but King's came up empty down the stretch while Clarks Summit capitalized on their opportunities as King's fell, 86-76, in the non-conference contest on Monday night.
 
Patton led all scorers with 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, with a team-high five boards. JJ Walsh added 16 points as he went 5-for-6 from the field, and Faux tallied 14 points off the bench. Sophomore Eamonn Walsh rounded out the offensive leaders for the Monarchs with 11 points, while first year Garrett Burys dished out a team-high three assists with a block and a steal.
 
Kelvin Chest paced Clarks Summit off the pines with 17 points, while Keith Hammond collected a team-best seven boards, dished out five dimes, and grabbed three steals.
 
King's had a strong shooting night as they connected on 43.6 percent (24-55) of their field goals and 45.0 percent (9-20) of their three-point attempts. The Monarchs also forced 16 Defenders turnovers and posted 13 assists on their 24 field goals. Looking inside the box score, the Monarchs held the edge in second-chance points (11-7).
 
The Monarchs will be off for the holiday break before they return to play on Sunday, November 27 as they open Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play at Misericordia University with a 3:00 p.m. tip off.