BOONE, N.C. –
Mikhail Pocknett scored 24 points, with
Jordan Akal adding 21 as the King University men's basketball team fell 90-82 to Carson-Newman in the season-opening Conference Carolinas/South Atlantic Conference challenge, held at Appalachian State University.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Carson-Newman 90, King 82
LOCATION: Holmes Convocation Center; Boone, N.C.
RECORDS: King 0-1; Carson-Newman 2-1
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Xavier Betancourt hit the first three of the game 27 seconds into the half, using an offensive rebound from Abdel-Majid Dylan Gory and hitting the bucket.
- The Eagles pulled ahead 10-8, stretching the lead to 13-8, forcing a King timeout.
- Carson-Newman extended their lead over the next five minutes, taking a 24-13 lead with 12:07 left to play.
- Pocknett had a steal and score with 11:29 left, picking up a loose ball and going all the way down the floor, hitting the transition layup. A short time later, Akal hit a pull-up jumper to cut the lead to 24-17.
- King continued to trim the lead, getting to within three when Akal hit a three, pulling to within 21-28 with 5:10 remaining.
- After the Eagles held a six-point lead with a minute to go, King scored the final five points of the half, including a Pocknett layup at the buzzer to bring the Tornado to within 41-40 at halftime.
Second Half
- After Carson-Newman took a quick five point lead, a jumper from Akal, along with a layup from Jalen Royster brought the Tornado back to within one, before a three from Royster put King in front, 49-47.
- Off an Eagles miss, Akal pulled the rebound and took it all the way down the court, hitting a jumper to make it a four point advantage with 17:13 left.
- The Tornado were able to extend the lead to six points with 11:18 left off consecutive Pocknett layups.
- Both teams then traded the lead over the next few minutes, with the Eagles taking a 73-69 lead with 7:20 left that they would hold onto for the rest of the game.
- The Eagles stretched the lead to 84-73 with 2:24 left, keeping it in double digits until the final horn.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Pocknett, the reigning Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, led the Tornado, scoring 24 points. Akal added 21, with six rebounds.
- Xavie Betancourt had 12 points and a team-high four assists.
- Jaylen Royster pulled a team-high seven rebounds for the Tornado.
FOR THE FOES
- Jack Browder was one of three Eagles to score 20+ points, finishing with 24. John Zhao scored 21, with Trey Hubbard adding 20.
- Zhao finished with a double-double, also pulling a game-high 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will face UVA Wise back at App State on Sunday afternoon.
