OWENSBORO, Ky. – King College chipped away at a 17-point deficit in the Tornado's season opener Saturday at Kentucky Wesleyan College, but King was defeated 82-77 at game's end.

Saturday's contest was the regular season opener for both teams.

Jason Seymore (Powell, Tenn.) got King within three points, 80-77, with 80 seconds remaining. The home standing Kentucky Wesleyan squad got two free throws down the stretch. Seymore went onto finish with 19 points and eight rebounds.

Kentucky Wesleyan built a 17-point advantage with 12:50 left in the game. 

King jumped out early and led by as many as seven points in the first half. However Kentucky Wesleyan used a 10-2 run in the final three minutes of the first half to take an eight-point margin to the locker room.

Clarence Smith (Nashville, Tenn.) poured in 21 points to lead King's offense.

The Tornado remains on the road with a 1 p.m. contest Sunday at Southern Indiana University. Southern Indiana opened the season Friday with an 80-63 victory over Ohio Dominican University.

More to come...