WILKES-BARRE, PA (December 10, 2023) -- Four different Monarchs ended in double figures, while the team shot over 50% from the floor in the second half and in the overtime period as the King's College men's basketball team defeated Marywood University, 91-86, in McGrane Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon. With the victory, the Monarchs extend their win streak to six and improve to 7-2 overall, while the Pacers drop to 5-5.
 
Chris Patton connected for a three on the opening possession of the game, but it was Marywood (5-5) who started the game strong offensively, building an 11-point edge with 13:17 left in the half. The Pacers regained their double-digit lead before back-to-back layups from Ben Rodner-Tims and a put back from Conner Griffin saw King's (7-2) close within five, 26-21, with 7:57 remaining before the break. The visitors kept the Monarchs at bay with some good fortune at the charity stripe, never allowing King's closer than within five in the final ticks as the hosts faced a 42-34 halftime deficit.
 
Marywood kept their momentum to start the second half, out scoring King's 9-1 in the first 3:12 of the period before a put back from Garrett Burys sparked a 18-2 run from King's as they closed within one, 53-52, with 14:13 to go. The Pacers responded with back-to-back threes, but the Monarchs made it a one-point game again with 11:24 to play with a six-point spurt. The Pacers found their rhythm again offensively, putting up an 8-3 run, but King's had an answer as a jumper from Eamonn Walsh ignited a stretch of nine unanswered points as the Monarchs took the lead, 70-67, with 5:24 remaining in regulation.
 
The teams traded baskets over the next 3:24 before a pair of free throws from Shilo Bivins knotted the score at 75-75 with 2:00 to go, but the junior trio of Patton, Walsh, and Patrick Bennie all scored on consecutive trips down the floor to give the Monarchs the 81-77 edge with 29 seconds left. It was Marywood in the final 20 seconds to convert on a set of drives, and Patton's three just bounced off the rim at the buzzer to send this non-conference match up to overtime.
 
King's began the extra frame with all the momentum, using a three from Carmine Castiello and a transition bucket from Rodner-Tims coupled with a block from Burys and a steal by Patton to hold the 86-81 edge. Marywood chipped away at the deficit to pull within one, 87-86, with 2:41 left in the game, but the Monarchs defense delivered as they held the Pacers scoreless down the stretch. Castiello sealed the win with a layup and a pair of free throws as King's defeated Marywood, 91-86, in the non-conference thriller on Sunday afternoon to win their sixth straight.
 
Patton led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 7-for-15 from the field, with eight rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block, while Castiello added 18 points, connecting for 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, with a team-high five steals and three assists. Walsh had a strong game, totaling 17 points with eight boards, three helpers, and three takeaways, while Rodner-Tims recorded 10 points off the bench to go along with five caroms. Burys collected five rebounds and blocked a pair of shots, while Bennie came up big down the stretch, adding seven points on 2-for-2 shooting with two boards and two steals. Additionally, Ray Gooley grabbed six rebounds to help the team effort.
 
Marywood was led by Trevor Seitz off the bench with 18 points, while Mason Mendygral added 16 points with four assists. Austin Bausman matched Mendygral's 16-point effort while collecting eight rebounds.
 
King's finished the game shooting 41.3% from the floor, including a 51.43% shooting effort in the second half and 60% in overtime on their way to the victory. The Monarchs dished out 15 assists and collected 14 steals on 21 Pacer miscues. The battle on the boards went to King's as they out rebounded Marywood 50-47, and the defense limited Marywood to 38.8% from the floor and 31.7% from three in the game. Diving into the box score, King's had the edge in points off turnovers (18-13), second-chance points (15-10), points in the paint (44-26), and fast break points (14-8).
 
The Monarchs will compete one final time before the holiday break as they travel out to Williamsport for a non-conference contest against Penn College. Tip off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13.