JANUARY 4, 2017

KING'S MEN FALL TO DEL-VAL IN FREEDOM CONFERENCE OPENER

DOYLESTOWN -- The host Delaware Valley University men's basketball team broke open a game tied 29-29 at the half and outscored visiting King's College 45-35 over the game's final 20 minutes to post a 74-64 victory in the Freedom Conference opener Wednesday night in Doylestown.  

With the win Delaware Valley improved to 6-6 while King's slipped to 4-7.

King's fell behind 5-0 to start the game but the Monarchs used an 15-6 run to build a 15-11 lead with 9:54 left in the half following six straight points from Derek Wilkins. 

The Aggies, however , answered with a 11-3 run of their own to forge ahead 22-18 after a Daniel Paulson three-pointer with 5:31 to play in the opening stanza.

The Monarchs battled back to take a 25-24 lead on a Connor Callejas three-pointer at the 2:30 mark but the Aggiestied the game at 25-25 when Mike Cianculli made one-of-two free throws with 1:42 left. 

After Dan Rutecki made two foul shots to put the Monarchs ahead 27-25, a Tyrea Williams dunk tied the game at 27-27 with 1:09 on the clock.  King's recaptured the lead at 29-27 at 0:29 on a Jake Barber driving lay-up but the Aggies tied the game at 29-29 at the buzzer on a bucket by Austin Stoeckel.

In the second half Delaware Valley strung together a 9-2 spurt to build a 37-31 advantage after a Cianciulli trey with 16:08 left in the contest. After the Monarchs drew to within 40-35 after two more Rutecki foul shots at 14:50, the Aggies used another three-pointer by Cianciulli to push the Aggie lead to 43-35 with 14:21 remaining. 

Delaware Valley would later use a decisive 17-11 surge to build a 60-46 advantage after an Alex Matsinye three-pointer and four straight foul shots from Kimbrough and Matsinye with 5:19 left. The Monarchs would come no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

Callejas led King's with 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 2-of-3 from long range. Wilkins tallied 12 points while Rutecki added 10 points and seven rebounds. John Fazzini posted nine points for the Monarchs. 

Ciaciulli led the Aggies with 17 points while Matsinye and Kimbrough added 14 and 12 respectively.

King's will return to the court Saturday when the Monarchs host Eastern University at 3:00 PM in a Freedom Conference matchup in Scandlon Gymnasium.