MADISON, NJ (January 28, 2023) – Junior Will Johnson led four Monarchs in double figures with a game-high 25 points on the King's College men's basketball team's way to a 73-63 win over FDU-Florham on the road on Saturday afternoon in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play. The Monarchs snap their losing streak and improve to 7-12 overall and 2-9 in the conference, while the Devils fall to 3-17 and 2-9 in the MAC Freedom.
It was a competitive game from the start as neither team led by more than three points until three consecutive triples from Johnson started a 14-0 King's (7-12, 2-9 MAC Freedom) run to see the Monarchs ahead, 26-17, with 2:54 to go in the opening half. The two teams would trade possessions down the stretch with the Monarchs ahead, 30-22, at the break.
Out of the locker room, King's continued their momentum to see their lead swell to as much as 13, 40-27, on another three from Johnson with 17:05 to play in regulation. FDU-Florham (3-17, 2-9 MAC Freedom would edge out the Monarchs 15-7 over the next 5:27 of action to pull within five, 47-42, with 11:38 left on the clock.
Five straight points from sophomore Patrick Bennie would fuel a King's run that saw them regain their double-digit lead, 64-51, with 5:39 left, but the Devils would not allow the Monarchs to run away with this one. FDU-Florham would go on another 8-2 stretch to see the King's lead dwindle to seven, 66-59, with 2:08 remaining. The hosts were forced to foul, and King's would go 7-for-8 in the final minutes to secure the 73-63 MAC Freedom win over FDU-Florham on Saturday afternoon.
Johnson added seven boards, five assists, and a steal to go along with his 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting with six threes. Sophomore Chris Patton added 19 points, going 6-of-13 from the field, while junior Carmine Castiello posted 10 points four assists, four caroms, and a team-high three steals. Sophomore Eamonn Walsh rounded out the leading scorers with six points, and first year Garrett Burys pulled down a team-high tying seven rebounds.
The Devils were paced by Matthew Johnson with 22 points and two steals, while Brain Nichols collected a team-high 11 points. Additionally, Jamal Santana handed out six dimes in the loss.
King's shot a strong 41.0 percent (25-61) from the floor and 38.5 percent (10-26) from beyond the arc while dishing out 16 assists on their 25 baskets. The Monarchs defense limited the Devils to 28.1 percent (9-32) from three and forced 12 turnovers while collecting six steals. FDU-Florham held a slight edge in the rebounding column, 38-35, but King's had the advantage in points off turnovers (17-11), and fast break points (8-0).
The Monarchs will return to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. and prepare to host Misericordia University in the first game of the MAC Freedom doubleheader on Wednesday, February 1 at 6:0 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.
--MONARCHS--