HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (December 4, 2024) -- Senior guard Chris Patton topped his previous career-best effort from the 2024 season opener with a new career-high 38 points as the King's College men's basketball team fell, 79-69, at Centenary University on Wednesday evening. With the setback, the Monarchs drop to 4-2, while the Cyclones improve to 4-4.
 
Patton got the ball rolling with 22 of his 38 points in the first half, but the back-and-forth contest saw King's (4-2) leading by just one, 36-35, at halftime.
 
Centenary (4-4) scored the first four points of the second to go ahead, 39-36, but the Monarchs got in the scoring column as Patton hit a pair at the free throw line. King's took the lead in the contest, 43-41, with 13:25 left in the half thanks to three straight points from Eamonn Walsh, but after trading scores the Cyclones seemed to have their rhythm as they built a 16-point edge with 5:59 remaining.
 
Patton hit a three to spark a 9-0 run to close within single digits, 69-62, with 4:27 to play. Back-and-forth efforts set up a three from Walsh to bring the game within five, 72-67, with 2:30 on the game clock, but the Cyclones hit a triple of their own with 1:39 to go. The Monarchs were forced to foul down the stretch where Centenary went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe to seal the deal and hand King's the 79-69 setback on Wednesday night.
 
Patton poured in his new career-best 38 points on 11-for-19 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three, with three rebounds, three steals, and an assist in 37 minutes of action. Walsh added 16 points with six boards and two assists, while Ben Rodner-Tims handed out five helpers. Burys led the squad with seven boards, Ray Gooley collected two steals, and Sean Forrest blocked two shots.
 
Naire Preston led Centenary off the bench with 19 points, while Ryan O'Melia added seven rebounds.
 
The Monarchs shot43.1% from the floor in the contest and 3.3% from beyond the arc, dishing out 12 assists on their 22 field goals.
 
King's will wrap up their schedule prior to the holidays as they take on Marywood University on the road on Saturday afternoon. Tip off in the Insalaco Arena is set for 3:00 p.m.