Box Score BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's basketball team got off to a good start as they defeated Flagler College on Friday night. The Tornado had four scorers in double figures and shot nearly 50 percent from the floor in their 90-72 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 90, Flagler 72
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 1-0; Flagler 0-1
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- The Tornado got off to a hot start with back-to-back triples from Mike Salomon and Timothy Taylor.
- Taylor and Justin Frazier knocked down two more triples, extending the Tornado lead to 12-5 four minutes in.
- The King defense dug in down the stretch, holding the Saints without a point for nearly five minutes as King extended their lead from eight to 21.
- On the 13-0 run, Salomon and Frazier connected from long range, giving King a 43-22 lead.
- Salomon then ended the first half with a bucket that ended a Flagler run and gave King a 47-31 lead at halftime.
Second Half
- Kalen Clifton stretched the King lead to 58-37 following an old-fashioned three-point play six minutes into the second half.
- Flagler went on a 9-0 run that cut their deficit to 69-56 with nine minutes remaining, but Taylor made a pair of free throws to get the Tornado back on the board.
- The Tornado put the game out of reach with an 8-1 run, capped by a Frazier bucket.
- Taylor then knocked down a triple, giving King a 90-69 lead with one minute remaining.
- The Saints made a three-point basket in the final minute, but King took the contest 90-72.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- King shot 49.2 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent from three in the win.
- Taylor led King with 17 points and added six assists.
- Salomon followed with 16 points, going 4-for-6 from three-point range.
- Frazier and Clifton chipped in with 15 points apiece.
- Antonio Freeman grabbed 12 rebounds to go along with eight points.
FOR THE FOES
- Damerit Brown led Flagler with 19 points while Vaughn McCall followed with 11 points.
- Logan Swackhammer chipped in with nine points and five rebounds.
UP NEXT
- King hosts Columbus State University at 4:00 p.m.
- The Saints take on Lees-McRae College at 2:00 p.m. in the Student Center Complex.
