WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 3, 2024) -- The junior duo of Chris Patton and Eamonn Walsh combined for 48 points as the King's College men's basketball team to a thrilling 80-72 victory over the visiting FDU-Florham in their Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) debut on Wednesday night in McGrane Gymnasium. The Monarchs open their conference slate 1-0 and improve to 9-3 overall, while the Devils drop to 0-1 in the conference and 3-9 for the season.
 
King's (9-3, 1-0 MAC Freedom) took advantage of back-to-back triples from Patton as the junior sparked a 13-3 run to start the game. FDU-Florham (3-9, 0-1 MAC Freedom) closed within one, 17-16, with 11:04 to go in the half before the Monarchs opened the scoring again with 13 unanswered points, including six from Walsh, to go ahead, 30-16, with 4:03 left in the first. The Devils slowly chipped away at the deficit before heading into the locker room with King's ahead, 37-31.
 
After jumping ahead by 10 to start the second off a layup from Garrett Burys, the Monarchs faced a gritty match up with the Devils as the remainder of the game stayed within single-digits but still maintained at least a two-possession game. FDU-Florham closed within four, 67-63, with 5:23 to play before the physical game sent King's to the charity stripe where they connected for 5-of-8 to regain their edge, 72-63, with 3:27 left. The Devils did not shy away, making it a four-point game again, 76-72, with 41 ticks to go, but Patton hit 3-of-4 from the free throw line, while Jake Karnish added one of his own on their way to the 80-72 victory over the visiting FDU-Florham in their MAC Freedom opener.
 
 Patton led all scorers with 25 points, adding team highs of eight rebounds and three steals with two assists and a block, while Walsh posted 23 points, seven boards, and two helpers. Carmine Castiello added 10 points with a team-best seven dimes to go with seven caroms, and Karnish tallied 10 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Additionally, Burys totaled eight points, three boards, and a pair of blocks in the victory.
 
FDU-Florham saw five in double figures, led by Brian Nichols with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.
 
The King's offense had a stellar night, shooting 43.8% from the floor and 60% from beyond the arc, while also sharing the ball well with 17 assists on 21 field goals. The defensive effort forced 15 Devil turnovers, and the Monarchs collected 40 team rebounds in the win. Diving into the box score, King's had the advantage in points off turnovers, 17-15, over FDU-Florham.
 
King's will look to maintain this momentum in conference play on Saturday afternoon as they take on Arcadia University on the road. Tip off is set for 3:00 p.m. in Glenside, Pa.