JANUARY 13, 2016

KING'S MEN FALL TO DESALES, 72-70

CENTER VALLEY --Aaron Burton's floater from five feet out with 0:03 left proved to be the difference as the host DeSales University men's basketball team puled out a 72-70 win over the King's College men's basketball team Wednesday night in Center Valley.

With the win DeSales improved to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in Freedom Conference play while King's slipped to 7-7 and 1-2.

DeSales came out of the gates and opened a 10-5 lead after a three-pointer by Connor Jones. The Monarchs closed to within 16-15 after a three-pointer by Connor Hughes and an inside basket from Tom Heston with 9:49 left in the half. DeSales then went on a 11-2 run to stretch the lead to 27-17 on the strength of two three-pointers from Brian Laird. 

King's used four straight points from Heston and Hughes to trim the lead to 27-21 but Laird buried another three to extend the Bulldog lead to 30-21 with 4:14 to go.  King's would then close out the half with a 7-3 spurt to cut the lead to 33-28 at the break.

In the second half King's fell behind 51-41 with 11:48 to play on a buckey by Brandon Bridy. King's chipped away and closed to 57-53 after a three-pointer from Nate Oliver, , three points from Heston and a basket by Jake Barber with 7:41 to play.

The Monarchs kept battling and eventually tied the score at 70-70 on Hughes three-pointer with 0:12 to play. But Burton's acrobatic floater with 0:03 to go put the Bulldogs on top. Hughes would attempt a three-pointer from halfcourt at the buzzer but the shot caromed off the backboard as the Bulldogs held on for the win.

Heston led King's with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Rutecki added 11 points and six boards. John Fazzini tallied 10 points while Hughes added eight points. Laird paced DeSales with 23 points while Bridy added 14.

King's will host Eastern University Saturday at 3PM in Scandlon Gym.