BRISTOL, Tenn. – In a game that saw both teams lead by double figures, the King University men's basketball team fought back to force overtime against North Greenville University following a four-play from
Josh Releford. However, the Crusaders outscored King in the extra session to take the contest 103-100.
THE BASICS
FINAL: North Greenville 103; King 100 (F/OT)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 6-11, 5-10 Conference Carolinas; North Greenville 7-6, 7-6 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- The contest was even through the first six minutes as the teams traded the lead four times.
- Releford gave King a lead when he drilled a three-point basket and Darron Howard followed with a basket.
- King scored eight straight points, capped by back-to-back three-point baskets from Damion Ottman and Howard to take a 29-22 lead.
- The Tornado advantage grew to 37-27 following another Ottman triple with five minutes remaining until halftime.
- Following a Releford triple that gave King a 40-29 lead, the Crusaders scored 14 straight points to take a 43-40 lead.
- Ottman made a pair of baskets in the final minute to give King a 44-43 lead at halftime.
Second Half
- King held the advantage in the early going, but the Crusaders broke a tie with nine straight points to take a 60-51 lead.
- The Tornado later trailed by 11 before King rolled off 10 straight points as an Isaiah Curry layup pulled King within 65-64 with 12 minutes remaining.
- However, the Crusader drilled a triple to stretch the lead back to four.
- North Greenville continued to hold the lead within six points and held a 91-87 lead in the final 30 seconds.
- Releford then took a shot from the right corner in front of the King bench, the shot bounded on the rim and finally fell after the whistle hand sounded to call a foul.
- He then made the free throw to even the score at 91.
- A North Greenville shot then was missed, sending the game to overtime.
Overtime
- MJ Foust started the extra session with a dunk down the lane to give King the lead.
- The Crusaders answered and later held a 98-95 lead before Releford drilled another trifecta to even the score at 98.
- The teams traded free throws as the game was tied at 100 before North Greenville's Jacob Redding made a layup and was fouled.
- He converted the three-point play and King couldn't score on the other as the Crusaders took the game 103-100.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Releford led the Tornado with 28 points, going 9-for16 from three-point range. He added a team-high five assists.
- Curry followed with 16 points and eight rebounds.
- Howard added 14 points while Ottman scored 12 points.
- JaMarquis Johnson chipped in with 10 points and three assists.
FOR THE FOES
- Redding led the Crusaders with 22 points and Jalon Cokley added 21 points.
- C.J. Jamison scored 19 points while Tracus Chisholm scored 15 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Releford set a career-high with 28 points, topping his previous high of 22.
- He also made nine triples, which tied for the second-most in school history. The school record is 13.
UP NEXT
- King closes the regular season on Thursday when they travel to the University of Mount Olive. Tipoff from Mount Olive, N.C. is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
- North Greenville is in action again on Monday when they host Lees-McRae College.
