Box Score MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – In postseason play, nothing comes easy, and the King University men's basketball team was locked in another tight game in the Conference Carolinas Semifinals against third seed North Greenville University. The second seeded Tornado trailed the majority of the contest, but came back to take the lead late in the game, only to see the Crusaders respond and score the game's final four points to take the contest 59-56.
North Greenville (21-9) scored the first five points of the contest before C.J. Good got the Tornado on the board with a jump shot. The Crusaders then used an 8-0 run to open up a 15-3 lead seven minutes into the game.
The King deficit grew to as many as 15 at 22-7 with seven minutes left in the half, before King outscored North Greenville 12-8 over the final seven minutes. Logan Lyle capped the first half scoring with a three-point basket with 1:35 remaining to make the halftime score 30-19.
Drew Standifer scored the first points of the second half, cutting the Tornado deficit to single digits as the teams traded points in the early going of the frame. King (24-6) tried to work their way back, but it seemed as though the Crusaders had an answer every time the Tornado tried to make a run. Mikquell Jackson cut the King deficit to 34-28 with a free throw, before sinking a pair from the line to make the score 39-34 with 12 minutes remaining.
Late in the half, Jackson converted a three-point play that made the score 41-40 in favor of North Greenville before Lyle gave King their first lead of the game at 43-42 when he drilled a three-point basket. The lead was short lived however, as the Crusaders made a layup on the other end and later added a pair of free throws to stretch the lead to 46-43 with eight minutes remaining.
Hunter LeVeau gave the lead back to King at 51-50 when he hit a jumper with 2:51 remaining as the lead changed hands six times over the final three minutes. Every time the Tornado grabbed the lead, North Greenville had an answer. Lyle got a tip-in with 2:22 remaining, but the Crusaders answered with a three-point basket to take a 55-53 lead with 1:49 remaining.
Nevertheless, Lyle hand an answer of his own, connecting from long range, giving King a 56-55 lead with 1:41 remaining. However, North Greenville hit a pair of free throws with 1:11 remaining to regain the lead. The Crusaders then forced a King turnover and the Tornado forced a three-point shot by the Crusaders. However, North Greenville got the rebound and King was forced to foul. Spencer Reeves hit both free throws with 9.1 seconds remaining, giving North Greenville a three-point cushion. Lyle got a look to tie the game in the waning seconds, but the shot was long as the Crusaders took the upset 59-56.
King shot 28.8 percent from the floor, including a 13.9 mark from three-point range while North Greenville shot 51.2 percent from the floor and 31.3 percent from three. The Tornado only committed nine turnovers while forcing the Crusaders into 17 miscues. King also outrebounded North Greenville 40-28.
Lyle led King with 13 points to go along with five rebounds. LeVeau followed with 11 points and six rebounds while Jackson added 10 points and six rebounds. Calvin Walker dished out seven assists to lead King.
The Tornado were ranked seventh in last week's NCAA Southeast Region Rankings, and will have to wait and see if they will get an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. Sunday night, and can be seen live on NCAA.com.
