SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The King University Men's Basketball team had four players score in double-digits Saturday, but a thunderous second half from Converse allowed the Valkyries to pick up their first win in program history.
Blake Atwood led the way, scoring 15 points for the Tornado.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 77, Converse 73
LOCATION: Tom & Tracy Hannah Gym; Spartanburg, S.C.
RECORDS: King 2-1, 0-1 Conference Carolinas; Converse 2-1, 1-0 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- The first half was close early, with neither team able to get a very large lead.
- Things started to change at the 12:49 mark, when MJ Foust hit a layup to give King a three-point lead. Brandon Lamberth would take a pass from Shan Jenkins and hit a fast break layup to make it a 17-12 lead for the Tornado.
- Coming out of the media timeout, King continued to extend their lead, getting it to 11 points when Atwood recorded a steal and took the ball to the hole himself, hitting the layup.
- After Foust recorded a steal, he fed Atwood who hit another layup in transition, making it a 27-14 lead.
- The largest lead of the half came with 3:10 left, when Atwood hit a three that punctuated a 17-3 Tornado run, giving them a 38-19 lead.
- The Valkyries were able to trim the lead to 13 points heading into the locker room.
Second Half
- Converse came out of the halftime break on fire, cutting the King lead to just five with 11:45 left in the half.
- King went on a small run, with Isaiah Curry and Michael Mays going back-to-back on buckets to make it a nine-point lead.
- The Tornado would eventually open up a 13-point lead thanks to Lamberth hitting a pullup jumper with 7:38 to go.
- The Valkyries would come storming back, and eventually tied the game with 2:37 left. They wouldn't take their first lead since early in the first half with 16 seconds left.
- Lamberth had a look at a humper in the closing seconds, but was unable to get the ball to go into the hoop.
- Converse hit a pair of free throws with three seconds left to seal the victory
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Atwood's 15 points is a new career high, eclipsing his 13 points that came on Jan. 16 against Bluefield State.
- Curry finished with a season-high 13 points, and also pulled six rebounds.
- Mays and Lamberth both contributed 12 points for the Tornado.
FOR THE FOES
- Earl Burgess III recorded a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
- Jordan Warlick led all scorers, scoring 19 points and going 4-4 from the free throw line.
- This was the first-ever men's basketball conference game for Converse, and their second win of the season.
UP NEXT
- King will look to rebound Tuesday when they take on North Greenville. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Tigerville, S.C.
- Converse will be at home Tuesday night, hosting Erskine at 7 p.m.
