BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's basketball team fell behind Carson-Newman University early in Saturday evening in the Student Center Complex. The Tornado tried to come back in the second half, but each time King got a run going, Carson-Newman had an answer to thwart the Tornado momentum and take the contest 86-74.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Carson-Newman 86, King 74
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 0-2, Carson-Newman 1-1
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Carson-Newman got off to a hot start on both ends of the floor as they took an 11-0 lead in the opening four minutes.
- Jordan Akal got the Tornado on the board with a layup seven minutes into the contest.
- Akal then knocked down a pair of triples around a Michael Mays three-point basket to pull King within 21-11 midway through the first half.
- King pulled within 24-15 with five minutes remaining in the half before the Eagles went on a 9-0 run, extending their lead to 33-15.
- Myles McCrary scored four points in the final two minutes before Josh Jackson made two free throws in the final second of the half to pull the Tornado within 35-21 at the break.
- King shot 20.0 from the floor in the opening half while Carson-Newman shot 37.5 percent from the floor.
Second Half
- The scoring picked up in the second half, but each time the Tornado tried to get a run going, the Eagles responded.
- Carson-Newman extended their lead to 40-25 in the opening minutes of the half before King rolled off seven straight points.
- Amarius Beasley started the spurt with a layup before Jaylen Bernard cut the King deficit to 40-32 with a pair of free throws.
- Carson-Newman grabbed their largest lead of the game at 68-48 with eight minutes remaining before Henry Okoye started a Tornado run with a layup.
- Darron Howard followed with a pair of free throws and a triple to pull King within 68-55.
- Howard later connected from long range again before a Kenny Turner dunk cut the King deficit to single digits with five minutes remaining.
- On the next possession, Howard knocked down another three-point basket, pulling King within 74-67, but Carson-Newman answered with a basket.
- King cut the deficit to seven three more times, but each time the Eagles answered with points and eventually took the contest 86-74.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mays led the Tornado with 19 points and Howard followed with 11 points.
- Akal chipped in with 10 points and three assists.
FOR THE FOES
- The Eagles had four scorers in double figures, led by Ren Dyer's 21 points and 12 rebounds.
- Bryant Thomas added 20 points while Monty Johal scored 12 points.
- John Zhao chipped in with 10 points and Tyler Bowens snared 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
- King is in action again on Wednesday when they travel to regional rival Lincoln Memorial University. The Railsplitters are ranked sixth in the NABC poll and ninth in the D2SIDA poll. Tipoff from Harrogate, Tenn., is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
- Carson-Newman returns to the court on Saturday against Southern Wesleyan University.
