WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 23, 2024) -- All five starters in the contest finished in double figures as the King's College men's basketball team defeated Penn College, 78-60, in McGrane Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Monarchs win their second straight and improve to 3-1 overall, while the Wildcats fall to 2-4.
 
It was tightly contested match up over the first 9:59 of action as the score remained knotted at 20-20, but an 8-3 run by King's (3-1) put the Monarchs ahead, 28-21, with 7:17 remaining. Penn College (2-4) kept it close down the stretch as King's maintained a 37-31 edge at the break.
 
Five straight points to start the second gave the Monarchs the momentum they needed throughout the final 20 minutes of play. The lead swelled to as many as 15, 55-40, with 13:40 to play, but the Wildcats did not allow King's to run away in the win. The Monarchs continued to play well, putting up a 21-point edge with 1:04 left before posting the 78-60 final in McGrane Gymnasium.
 
Patton led the team with 21 points, adding eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Garrett Burys continued his strong play, putting up a double-double of 11 points and 10 board with a pair of blocks, while Eamonn Walsh scored 11. Ben Rodner-Tims totaled 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting with five caroms and two takeaways, and Jake Karnish also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards with four assists and three steals.
 
Penn College was led by Livingston Cross with 25 points and 16 rebounds.
 
King's shot an impressive 45.6% (31-68) from the floor, while the defense limited the Wildcats to 30.9% from the floor and 27.6% from beyond the arc. The defense also forced 17 Penn College turnovers while collecting nine steals. Inside the stat sheet, the Monarchs had the edge in points off turnovers (23-14), points in the paint (44-26), and fast break points (14-5).
 
The Monarchs will be back in action in McGrane Gymnasium on Monday evening, hosting Lycoming College at 7:00 p.m.