Box Score GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The King University men's basketball took to the road for the first time in nearly one month and the Tornado held a 52-36 advantage at the half at Tusculum College. However, the Pioneers used a 18-0 run in the second half to take the lead and upset the seventh-ranked Tornado 99-94.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Tusculum 99, #7 King 94
LOCATION: Pioneer Arena, Greeneville, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 7-2, Tusculum 6-2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams traded baskets during the first 10 minutes until King pulled away to take a 24-18 lead.
- The Pioneers came back to get within 27-24 before Mikquell Jackson sparked a 10-0 run with a layup. Derick Pope followed with a steal and a layup before Jackson capped the spurt with six straight points.
- Hunter LeVeau then ignited an 11-0 run with one of his seven triples in the contest. C.J. Good followed with two three-point baskets and a layup to give King a 48-30 lead.
- The advantage grew to 52-32 following a Je'Don Young three-point basket and later a free throw from Young.
- Tusculum scored the final four points of the frame to make the halftime score 52-36 in favor of the Tornado.
- The Tornado lead grew to as many as 21, following a Good three-point basket early in the second half.
- The Pioneers started to work their way back, scoring eight straight points to cut their deficit to 68-47 before Nathanael Hughes connected on a trifecta with 11:56 minutes remaining.
- However, that was the last bucket King scored until there was 6:10 remaining.
- In that time the Pioneer offense scored 18 straight points to turn an 11-point deficit into a 77-71 lead with 6:25 remaining.
- LeVeau ended that spurt with a three-point basket and later pulled King within 82-80 with another trifecta.
- With just more than two minutes remaining, LeVeau connected from long range again, pulling the Tornado within 85-83, but the Tornado couldn't get any closer as the Pioneers took the 99-94 victory.
- LeVeau led the Tornado with 23 points, going 7-for-11 from three-point range and 8-for-19 from the floor.
- Good followed with 18 points and Scales chipped in with 12. The duo also handed out four assists apiece.
FOR THE FOES
- Tusculum shot a blistering 50.0 percent from the floor in the second half after shooting 36.7 percent in the first half. The Pioneers also made seven of the 15 three-point attempts in the second half for a 46.7 percentage.
- Darius Carter posted a game-high 25 points, going 10-for-12 from the free throw line.
- Zach Davis followed with 16 and Matt Shown added 15.
- Chase Mounce and Cory Fagan rounded out five Pioneers in double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
- Mounce also added nine rebounds and Show snared eight boards.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- That marked the third time in his career LeVeau has made seven triples in a game, a mark that ranks third in school history.
- The 12 points from Scales marked a season-high.
UP NEXT
- King returns to Conference Carolinas play on Wednesday when they travel to Belmont Abbey College. Tipoff from Belmont, N.C. is slated for 2:00 p.m.
- Tusculum hosts Lenoir-Rhyne University in South Atlantic Conference tilt on Wednesday night.
