WILKES-BARRE, PA (December 10, 2022) -- A strong second-half shooting performance from the King's College men's basketball team would not be enough as the visiting Arcadia University shot 55.6 percent from the floor in the second half to hand the Monarchs the 77-68 loss in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play in McGrane Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Monarchs drop to 3-6 overall and 0-4 in the MAC Freedom standings, while the Knights improve to 4-5 with a 1-3 MAC Freedom record.
 
King's (3-6, 0-4 MAC Freedom) trailed early but went on a 7-2 stretch over a three-minute span to pull within five, 13-8, with 13:17 to go in the opening half. Arcadia (4-5, 1-3 MAC Freedom) would rebuild their lead, but the Monarchs chipped away at the deficit to regain the lead, 27-26, off a pair of free throws from junior Carmine Castiello with 5:13 left in the half. The teams would go back-and-forth down the stretch and head into the locker rooms with Arcadia leading, 38-33.
 
Arcadia would come out of the break firing as their lead swelled to as much as 12, 54-42, at the 13:18 mark of the second half. The gritty Monarchs would run off on a 17-8 rally to close within three, 62-59, with 6:04 to go in regulation, but the Knights would stifle the comeback efforts as King's fell, 77-68, in the MAC Freedom contest in McGrane Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sophomore Chris Patton led three in double figures as he recorded 17 points with five boards, while fellow-sophomore Patrick Bennie went 4-for-7 from the field for 12 points with five rebounds and two assists. First year Garrett Burys totaled a double-double of 13 boards and 10 points, and junior Will Johnson came off the bench to dish out a game-high seven dimes with five caroms.
 
Justin Money led Arcadia with 18 points, adding five assists and five rebounds, while Dom Vazquez totaled 13 points with five dimes. Additionally, Darius Isaac collected four steals, posted four assists, and added eight points in the win.
 
As a team, the Monarchs shared the ball well totaling 14 assists on 22 made field goals, and they edged out the Knights in the rebounding margin, 44-32. Additionally, King's held the advantage in second-chance points (16-7) and fast break points (9-3).
 
The Monarchs will be back on the court on Monday afternoon as they are set to host Penn College of Technology in a non-conference contest starting at 4:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.