Jan 04, 2016
JANUARY 4, 2015
MUHLENBERG MEN POST 75-70 COMEBACK WIN OVER KING'S
ALLENTOWN -- The host Muhlenberg College men's basketball team overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to post a come-from-behind 75-70 victory over visiting King's College in a non-conference matchup Monday night in Allentown.
With the win Muhlenberg improved to 4-5 on the year. King's, which played its first game since December 12, slipped to 6-6.
King's jumped out to a quick 11-2 lead just 3:34 into the game on the strength of four points each from Chris and John Fazzini.
The Monarchs later took a 23-11 lead on a traditional three-point play by Dan Rutecki with 11:01 left in the first half. After the Mules cut the lead to 23-18 on a Brandon LaRose jumper with 8:50 to go, the Monarchs pushed the lead to 30-20 with 5:40 remaining in the half on a Connor Hughes three-pointer.
Muhlenberg battled back and closed to within 34-29 at the halftime break.
In the second half King's came out with an 11-4 surge to build a 45-33 advantage at the 16:50 mark after a John Fazzini three-pointer but the Mules slowly chipped away to tie the score at 55-55 with 8:09 left after a Ryan Lindock lay-up. Muhlenberg would then take its first lead of the game at 57-55 with 6:33 to play on a bucket and foul shot from Nick Rindock.
Jake Barber then canned a pair of foul shots to give the Monarchs a 65-63 lead at the 4:38 mark before John Fazzini made one-of-two from the foul line to up the Monarchs lead to 66-65 with 3:40 left.
The Mules used an inside basket by Rindock to cut the King's lead to 66-65 with 3:40 to go. After a King's miss, the Mules took the lead on a Jon Schreer three-pointer to bring the score to 68-66 with 3:06 on the clock for the seventh lead change since the 6:33 mark. But Rutecki made a pair of free throws to tie the game at 68-68 with 2:49 to go.
Muhleberg, however, recaptured the lead on an inside basket from JeanLee Baez with 2:34 remaining. Not to be outdone, Chris Fazzini canned a short jumper to tie the game at 70-70 with 2:03 to play. But Baez again answered with a bucket down low to put the Mules on top 72-70 with 1:05 left.
With 0:54 on the clock King's missed a chance to tie the game after failing to convert the front end of a one-and-one. On the other end of the floor the Monarchs were unable to collect a Muhlenberg miss and Baez snared an offensive rebound and was fouled. Baez then made one-of-two free throws to put the Mules ahead 73-70 with 0:22 left.
King's missed a jumper with 0:12 on the clock and immediate fouled. Rindock made both free throw to up the Mule lead to 75-70. The Monarchs would then miss a three-pointer with 0:04 left as Muhleberg walked away with the victory.
John Fazzini led King's with 13 points and three assists while Chris Fazzini and Rutecki followed with 11 points apiece. Tom Heston posted 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds while Hughes also tallied 10 points.
Schreer led Muhlenberg with 17 points while LaRose and Erik Werheim followed with 14 and 12 points respectively.
King's will net host Penn State Wilkes-Barre Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.
Muhlenberg battled back and closed to within 34-29 at the halftime break.
In the second half King's came out with an 11-4 surge to build a 45-33 advantage at the 16:50 mark after a John Fazzini three-pointer but the Mules slowly chipped away to tie the score at 55-55 with 8:09 left after a Ryan Lindock lay-up. Muhlenberg would then take its first lead of the game at 57-55 with 6:33 to play on a bucket and foul shot from Nick Rindock.
Jake Barber then canned a pair of foul shots to give the Monarchs a 65-63 lead at the 4:38 mark before John Fazzini made one-of-two from the foul line to up the Monarchs lead to 66-65 with 3:40 left.
The Mules used an inside basket by Rindock to cut the King's lead to 66-65 with 3:40 to go. After a King's miss, the Mules took the lead on a Jon Schreer three-pointer to bring the score to 68-66 with 3:06 on the clock for the seventh lead change since the 6:33 mark. But Rutecki made a pair of free throws to tie the game at 68-68 with 2:49 to go.
Muhleberg, however, recaptured the lead on an inside basket from JeanLee Baez with 2:34 remaining. Not to be outdone, Chris Fazzini canned a short jumper to tie the game at 70-70 with 2:03 to play. But Baez again answered with a bucket down low to put the Mules on top 72-70 with 1:05 left.
With 0:54 on the clock King's missed a chance to tie the game after failing to convert the front end of a one-and-one. On the other end of the floor the Monarchs were unable to collect a Muhlenberg miss and Baez snared an offensive rebound and was fouled. Baez then made one-of-two free throws to put the Mules ahead 73-70 with 0:22 left.
King's missed a jumper with 0:12 on the clock and immediate fouled. Rindock made both free throw to up the Mule lead to 75-70. The Monarchs would then miss a three-pointer with 0:04 left as Muhleberg walked away with the victory.
John Fazzini led King's with 13 points and three assists while Chris Fazzini and Rutecki followed with 11 points apiece. Tom Heston posted 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds while Hughes also tallied 10 points.
Schreer led Muhlenberg with 17 points while LaRose and Erik Werheim followed with 14 and 12 points respectively.
King's will net host Penn State Wilkes-Barre Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.