WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 25, 2025) -- The King's College men's basketball team came out of the gates firing, converting 7-for7 to begin the game, but the visiting Misericordia University rallied to defeat the Monarchs, 82-61, in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play on Saturday afternoon. With the setback in McGrane Gymnasium, the Monarchs drop to 7-8 overall and 2-4 in the standings, while the Cougars improve to 10-7 with a 3-3 conference mark.
 
King's (7-8, 2-4 MAC Freedom) had the hot hand to start the game, shooting out to a 20-7 lead with 14:08 to go. Misericordia (10-7, 3-3 MAC Freedom) found their footing to keep the game within reach, closing within single digits with 11:40 left in the half. The Monarchs responded with seven consecutive points, but the Cougars did not go away as they cut the deficit to just one, 31-30, with 1:49 remaining. Eamonn Walsh buried a three, but Misericordia got three points from Derek Smith and a tally from RJ Weise in the final 48 ticks as the teams entered the locker room knotted at 34 apiece.
 
After trading baskets to start the second half, Misericordia got hot from three to open a 41-14 run to take a commanding lead over the Monarchs with 3:35 to play. King's had the advantage down the stretch, out scoring the Cougars 11-5, but the efforts came up shy in the 82-61 setback on Saturday afternoon.
 
Eamonn Walsh paced King's with 16 points, while Garrett Burys totaled 14 points, five rebounds, and two blocks. Chris Patton rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11, while Jake Karnish filled the stat sheet with 11 rebounds, six points, five assists, two steals, and a block. Ben Rodner-Tims also handed out five helpers, and Ray Gooley led the bench with six tallies.
 
Kevin Lazdowsky led all scorers with 27 points, adding six rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while Jack Gallagher finished with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds with five steals.
 
The Monarchs finished the game shooting 41.4% from the floor and were narrowly edged in the rebounding margin, 38-35, by the Cougars. King's had the edge in second-chance points (11-10), fast break points (11-10), and points in the paint (36-22).
 
King's will be on the road on Wednesday night, traveling to Lebanon Valley College to wrap up the first half of MAC Freedom play. Tip off in Annville is set for 7:00 p.m.