BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's basketball team responded from a defeat on Saturday with a hard-fought win over Belmont Abbey College. The Tornado shot 80.0 percent from the free throw line to defeat the Crusaders 86-73.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 86, Belmont Abbey 73
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 5-4, 3-4 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 5-5, 3-3 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Michael Mays started the contest with a pair of triples for the Tornado, but Belmont Abbey took a 12-6 lead five minutes into the contest.
- The Crusaders later led 17-11 before a Desmond Davis basket started a 14-0 King run.
- Blake Atwood drilled a triple on the spurt while Davis added a layup and triple before a Drew Baker collected an offensive rebound and made the putback to give King a 25-17 lead.
- Baker and Mays made consecutive baskets for the Tornado in the final minute before a pair of Connor Jordan free throws gave King a 39-36 lead.
- However, the Crusaders made a three-point basket at the buzzer, cutting the Tornado lead to 39-29 at the break.
Second Half
- King scored seven of the first eight points in the second half, opening up a 46-30 lead following two more Jordan free throws.
- Isaiah Curry converted a three-point play, giving King their largest lead of the game at 49-32 three minutes into the second half.
- However, the Crusaders began to work their way back, cutting the King lead to 51-42 with 10-2 run.
- The King lead was whittled to 57-54 midway through the period, but MJ Foust made a pair of free throws to get King back on the board.
- Foust then started a 8-0 King run with a jump shot and Brandon Lamberth followed with a three-point play.
- Atwood then gave King a 68-57 lead with a triple with seven minutes remaining.
- Belmont Abbey came back and got within six with five minutes, but King extended their lead and extended it back to 15 in the final minutes.
- The Tornado iced the 86-73 win at the free throw line.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- King went 28-for-35 from the free throw line in the win.
- Foust led the Tornado with 17 points and seven rebounds. He also went 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
- Mays followed with 13 points while Curry chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- LJ McCoy led Belmont Abbey with 13 points while Sean Halloran added 16 points and six rebounds.
- Mario Lacy, Jr. added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
- King returns to the road to take on Chowan University on Saturday. Tipoff from Murfreesboro, N.C. is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
- Belmont Abbey hosts UNC Pembroke on Saturday afternoon.
