BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's basketball team fought back and were able to tie the game in the second half, but a late run would prove to be the difference, as the Tornado fell to Chowan University 100-89 Sunday evening.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Chowan 100, King 89
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 6-20, 5-14 Conference Carolinas; Chowan 13-11, 11-8 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Chowan took an early 12-4 lead, with Chad Dreswick and Michael Mays both hitting jumpers to account for the Tornado points.
- The lead would eventually reach 19-4 before Myles McCrary made a layup to make it 19-6.
- After falling behind 24-9, a Mays jumper started what would be a 9-3 run, pulling the Tornado to within 27-18 with 10:23 to play.
- King would fight their way back to within single digits with 7:06 left when Mays nailed a three, making the score 32-23.
- Chowan would re-extend the lead out to 21 points with 2:03 to play before King pulled to within 53-35 on a Jaylen Bernard jumper with six seconds left.
Second Half
- King was able to score four of the first six points of the half, with Brandon Lamberth hitting a free throw before Josh Jackson hit a triple. Darron Howard would quickly follow with a defensive rebound before driving the length of the court to hit a fastbreak jumper to make it 55-41.
- After the lead reached 77-62 with 11:19 left, Mays would hit four free throws to bring King to within 77-66.
- The Tornado would continue to fight back, pulling to within four with 9:15 left on a Bernard jump shot before Chowan hit a pair of free throws to extend their lead to six.
- After Bernard hit a three, he would be fouled on the next Tornado possession, hitting all three free throws to tie the game at 81 with 8:18 remaining on the clock.
- The game was tied at 85 with just over six minutes to play, which is where the Hawks started what would be a 13-0 run that took them to a 98-85 lead, which the Tornado were unable to recover from.
- King did get to within nine in the closing minutes, but one final dunk by the Hawks with 33 seconds left sealed the deal, handing them a win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Bernard finished with a career-high 20 points, besting his previous high of 18, which he set earlier this season against Columbus State.
- Mays finished with a team-high 22 points.
- Jackson had six rebounds, five of which came on the defensive end, along with seven points.
FOR THE FOES
- Christian Koonce led all scorers, dropping 32 points on the night.
- Jay Estime had 14 points, whie Isaac Hippolyte pulled a team-high eight rebounds.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will face Emory & Henry Monday night in a road contest before closing the regular season Wednesday at home against Southern Wesleyan.
- Chowan will also close the regular season at home, hosting Barton Wednesday night.
