WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 18, 2023) -- To conclude the first half of their Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) schedule, the King's College men's basketball team fell, 72-53, to the visiting Wilkes University in front of a packed crowd in McGrane Gymnasium on Wednesday night. With the loss, the Monarchs drop to 6-10 overall and 1-7 in conference play, while the Colonels improve to 10-7 with a 5-3 MAC Freedom mark.

As a typical rivalry game goes, the opening minutes of this contest went back-and-forth and featured nine ties and three lead changes that saw the score knotted at 26 a piece with 2:01 to go in the half. Wilkes (10-7, 5-3 MAC Freedom) then used a 7-0 spurt to end the half with King's (6-10, 1-7 MAC Freedom) trailing, 33-26.

The Colonels carried the momentum into the second half, scoring the first six points of the period. The Monarchs then put up five unanswered points, to close within eight, 39-31, with 16:58 left in regulation, but Wilkes took over as they rebuilt their double digit advantage and never looked back on their way to hand King's the 72-53 loss in McGrane Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

Sophomore Chris Patton led the Monarchs with 14 points, adding three boards, two steals, and a block, while first year Garret Burys collected a game-high 11 boards to go along with nine points, two blocks, and two steals. Junior Will Johnson posted eight points with six caroms, while senior Tyler Faux came off the bench to total a balanced effort of eight points, five rebounds, and two assists.

Three different Colonels tallied 14 points in the win, led by Cayden Merrifield with 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Drake Marshall added 14 points, a team-best nine rebounds, and two assists.

King's connecting for 31.7 percent (19-60) of their shots, while their defense held Wilkes to 28.6 percent (8-28) from beyond the arc. The Monarchs were slightly edged on the boards, 41-40, but King's came out on top in second chance points (8-6), and bench points (17-13).

King's will be back in action as they start the second half of their MAC Freedom schedule on the road at Delaware Valley University on Saturday afternoon. The Monarchs are set for a 3:00 p.m. tip off in Doylestown, Pa.

--MONARCHS--