BRISTOL, Tenn. – For the second time in as many days, the King University men's basketball team dropped a tough contest to one of the top teams in Conference Carolinas, Southern Wesleyan University. The Tornado fought back in the second half, but couldn't pull even with the Warriors, falling 82-75.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Southern Wesleyan 82, King 75
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 2-4, 1-3 Conference Carolinas; Southern Wesleyan 2-1, 2-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Michael Mays and Damion Ottman got the Tornado off to a hot start, taking a 5-0 lead in the opening two minutes.
- However, the Warriors came back to take a 10-7 lead five minutes into the contest.
- Back-to-back Southern Wesleyan triples highlighted a 9-2 spurt that saw the Warriors take a 19-13 lead midway through the opening half.
- Southern Wesleyan gradually extended their lead and led 41-24 with three minutes remaining in the first half before King cut into their deficit.
- Brandon Lamberth and Connor Jordan baskets cut the King deficit to 44-33, but the Warriors scored the final two points of the half to take a 46-33 lead into the break.
Second Half
- The Warriors opened the second half with a 7-2 run, opening up a 53-35 lead two minutes into the half.
- MJ Foust tried to get the offense going as he had a hand in all nine points on a 9-0 run that pull King within 53-44.
- He started with a pair of free throws, then assisted on a Lamberth layup before connecting on a three-point basket and converted a layup.
- However, as Southern Wesleyan did on Friday night, they came up with baskets at key times as Arusha Hunter ended the Tornado run with a pair of three-point baskets.
- King didn't quit, however, as a pair of Mays free throws started a 10-0 spurt.
- J'Son Brooks made a basket in the paint before an Isaiah Curry free throw pulled King within 59-54 midway through the period.
- The King deficit grew back to 72-62 before Blake Atwood connected on a trifecta and Foust later pulled King within 72-68 with a jump shot.
- Lamberth made a tough shot that cut the King deficit to 74-71 with four minutes remaining, but the Warriors again answered with a basket on the other end of the court.
- King got back to within three on two more occasions, the second at 78-75 following a Connor Jordan layup with 1:46 remaining.
- However, the Warriors held off the Tornado again, taking the 82-75 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Foust led the Tornado with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.
- Lamberth followed with 10 points and seven rebounds.
- Jordan and Darron Howard chipped in with eight points apiece.
- Ottman added six points and seven rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Ta'Jay Dunlap led five Southern Wesleyan scorers in double figures with 20 points.
- Jalen Lowery added 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.
- Solomon Smith posted a game-high 10 rebounds and added eight points.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado take to the road to face off against Barton College on Tuesday night. Tipoff from Wilson, N.C. is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
- Southern Wesleyan travels to Belmont Abbey College on Tuesday.
