BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's basketball team faced another tough opponent in the early portion of their Conference Carolinas schedule in Southern Wesleyan University on Friday night. The Tornado continued to fight back all night, but couldn't hold a lead as the Warriors had an answer each time, taking the 104-89 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Southern Wesleyan 104, King 89
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 2-3, 1-2 Conference Carolinas; Southern Wesleyan 1-1, 1-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Brandon Lamberth gave King an early 8-6 lead four minutes in, but the Southern Wesleyan came back to regain the lead.
- Southern Wesleyan went on a 10-1 run to take a 16-9 following a three-point basket from Arusha Hunter.
- Michael Mays ended the spurt for the Tornado with a jump shot in the paint.
- The King deficit grew to 10 on multiple occasions before a J'Son Brooks three-point basket and Josh Releford steal and layup pulled King within 25-20.
- The Tornado cut their deficit to one twice, but couldn't pull even with the Warriors as Southern Wesleyan regained a 35-28 lead with four minutes remaining until halftime.
- Lamberth and MJ Foust came up with back-to-back baskets that gave King a 40-38 lead following Foust's three-point play.
- The advantage was short-lived, however, as the Warriors connected from long range on the next possession to regain the lead.
- Lamberth answered with a jump shot in the paint, but the Warriors struck again from long distance to take a 44-42 lead at halftime.
Second Half
- King stayed close to the Warriors early in the second half, but Southern Wesleyan opened up a 60-49 lead five minutes into the period.
- The Tornado offense tried to get a run going, but the Warriors had an answer each time as they held their lead in double digits the majority of the half.
- Southern Wesleyan opened up their largest lead of the game at 85-67 with 6:55 remaining.
- King continued to fight as the Tornado went on a 10-2 run that was started by a Foust steal and layup.
- Following a steal from Brooks, Mays made a jump shot in the paint, cutting the King deficit to 93-86 with 1:29 remaining.
- However, King couldn't get any closer as the Warriors closed out the 104-89 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Foust paced the Tornado offense with 31 points. He added nine rebounds, and four steals.
- Mays followed with 17 points and Releford chipped in with 13 points.
- Lamberth added eight points and six rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Demarcus Addie led four Southern Wesleyan scorers in double figures with 23 points.
- Hunter added 19 off the bench and Edwon Brady accounted for 16 points of the bench.
- Hunter Davis scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds while Ta'Jay Dunlap added eight points and 10 rebounds.
- Solomon Smith added eight points and 11 rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 31 points for Foust set a career-high, topping his previous best of 11 points set in the season-opener against Emmanuel College.
UP NEXT
- The teams meet again on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
