WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 4, 2023) -- To kickstart their 2023 schedule, the King's College men's basketball team picked up their first Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) win as they defeated the visiting FDU-Florham, 79-67, in McGrane Gymnasium on Wednesday night. With the win, the Monarchs improve to 5-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play, while the Devils fall to 2-11 with a 1-4 conference mark.
 
King's (5-7, 1-4 MAC Freedom) led early as a transition three from sophomore Chris Patton gave the Monarchs a 10-point advantage, 19-9, with 12:19 to go in the opening half. The lead swelled to as much as 19, 36-17, with 4:25 left before the break, but the Devils would hang tight until the end of the half as King's held a 40-27 edge heading into the locker room.
 
After trading early possessions to start the second half, King's scored eight unanswered points, featuring four from first year Brendan Lonergan to build their 20-point lead, 52-32, with 14:50 remaining. FDU-Florham (2-11, 1-4 MAC Freedom) would dwindle away at the Monarchs lead to close within five, 59-54, with 8:29 left on the game clock, but the Monarchs would have an answer as they rattled off the next seven points. King's would excel at the line down the stretch, connecting for 8-of-9 in the final span as they earned the 79-67 over the Devils in the MAC Freedom contest.
 
Junior Will Johnson tied for a game-high 24 points, adding a team-best seven boards and four steals, while sophomore Eamonn Walsh posted 18 points with six caroms. Patton rounded out the Monarchs in double figures with 17 points, connecting for three of the Monarchs four threes in the game, with five rebounds and a team-high four assists, while Lonergan came off the pine to add eight points and five boards.
 
The Devils were led by Carson Woods with 24 points, while Brian Nichols collected a game-high 12 rebounds with a team-best three dimes.
 
King's shot 42.4 percent (28-66) from the floor while dishing out 16 helpers. The Monarchs also took care of the ball as they committed just eight turnovers and forced 18 from the Devils, while the hosts won the battle on the boards as they pulled down 36 rebounds to FDU-Florham's 33. Inside the box score, King's edged out their opponents in points off turnovers (13-8), second chance points (8-1), points in the paint (40-22), and fast break points (9-5).
 
The Monarchs will head out to Hoboken, NJ on Saturday afternoon for a 1:00 p.m. tip off with Stevens Institute of Technology.