CENTER VALLEY, PA(January 28, 2026)—The King's College men's basketball team suffered a road setback against DeSales University on Wednesday night by a score of 75-66. The result brings the Monarchs overall record to 4-14 with a 1-6 record in MAC Freedom play while the Bulldogs improved to 10-8 overall and 5-2 in conference play.

The opening four minutes of the contest saw strong defense from both teams as a Ray Gooley three gave the Monarchs their first points of the night at 15:58 to bring the score to 5-3 DeSales. A Sean Forrest triple on the ensuing possession gave King's their first lead of the night, 6-5, at 15:28. Another Gooley connection from deep put the Monarchs up 9-7 just before the first media timeout.

The next six minutes of the half featured a similar style of play as both King's and DeSales continued to hunker down on the defensive end, including a Ben Rodner-Tims coast-to-coast steal and score. A Ben Malley three put the Monarchs ahead 17-13 with just over ten minutes left to play in the half.

DeSales responded to trailing by four with a 7-0 run, pulling ahead 20-17 before a Malley contested jumper cut the deficit to one at the 7:36 mark. As the Bulldogs attempted to extend their lead later in the half, key baskets from Forrest and Devin Kimmick put the Monarchs up a point, 31-30 with 2:30 to play in the opening stanza.

Rodner-Tims closed out the half with consecutive baskets, including a layup at the buzzer to put King's up 35-32 heading into the locker room. Forrest and Rodner-Tims led the Monarchs in the first half with eight points and three boards each.

DeSales opened the half with an 11-3 run with consistent offense and coming away with a pair of turnovers as King's three-point lead became a five-point deficit at the 16:34 mark. The Bulldogs extended their lead to double digits on a steal and score at 13:15.

Down 55–40, the Monarchs responded with a 9–0 surge, trimming the deficit to six with 9:17 remaining fueled by scores from Forrest and first-year transfer Landon Calabrese, along with a three from Darren Yost.

As King's searched for a way back into the contest, the Bulldogs continued to find the bottom of the net, trading baskets with the Monarchs. The advantage proved to be too much down the stretch as DeSales held on for a 75-66 conference win.

Rodner-Tims led the Monarchs with 16 points, adding four assists and two steals while logging a team-high 38 minutes. Kimmick recorded a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while also dishing out four assists. Forrest finished in double figures with 10 points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers. Malley provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, shooting 2-for-4 from beyond the arc.

King's returns to the hardwood on Saturday, January 31^st as the Monarchs host FDU-Florham in McGrane Gymnasium for a 3:00 p.m. tipoff.