WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 24, 2024) -- Despite a solid shooting performance in the contest, the King's College men's basketball team struggled to overcome some second-half miscues as they fell 77-61 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play to Lebanon Valley on Wednesday night in McGrane Gymnasium. King's drops to 10-8 overall and 2-5 in the standings, while the Flying Dutchmen improve to 5-13 with a 3-4 conference mark.
 
King's (10-8, 2-5 MAC Freedom) attacked the paint early in the contest, scoring eight of their first 10 in close range before a triple from Ben Rodner-Tims tied the game at 13-13 with 13:03 left in the first. A layup from Chris Patton broke up a 12-2 run by Lebanon Valley (5-13, 3-4 MAC Freedom) as they built a 25-15 edge with 8:56 to go before the break.
 
The Monarchs closed within five on a transition three from Devin Kimmick at the 4:29 mark, but the Flying Dutchmen scored three baskets to just one by King's in the final stretch as the Monarchs trailed, 36-27, heading into the locker room.
 
The Monarchs continued to battle throughout the second half, not allowing their opponents to run away with the contest. Facing a 13-point deficit with 9:25 to play, Patton drained a pair of threes, and Patrick Bennie scored in the paint to pull within seven, 61-54, with 7:43 remaining. The teams traded scores with the Flying Dutchmen on top, 67-58, with 4:44 left before both sides hit a scoring drought as neither team scored over the next 3:13 of play.
 
It was Lebanon Valley to come alive at the end, out scoring the Monarchs 10-3 down the stretch and connecting for 10-of-11 from the charity stripe, as King's fell 77-61 in McGrane Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
 
Patton led the scoring with 21 points, adding three rebounds and a steal, while Garrett Burys had a balanced effort with eight points, eight boards, two assists, and two blocks. Jake Karnish also grabbed eight caroms to go along with three helpers, a block, and a steal, while Kimmick collected a team-best two steals with six points and three dimes. Additionally, Eamonn Walsh secured six rebounds in the setback.
 
Evin Timochenko led all scorers, recording a double-double of 26 points and 14 rebounds, while Braden Bohannon came off the bench to pour in 20 points for the Flying Dutchmen.
 
King's shot 38.7% from the field and 36% from three for the contest, including 40.6% from the floor in the second half, while handing out 16 helpers on their 24 field goals. The defense forced 16 miscues by the Flying Dutchmen and came away with eight steals, but the visitors had the 23-12 edge in points off turnovers for the game.
 
The Monarchs will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon as they travel to FDU-Florham to start the second half of their conference schedule. Tip off in the MAC Freedom doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m. in Madison, N.J.