DUE WEST, S.C. – The King University men's basketball team held a halftime lead at Erskine College on Saturday afternoon, but the Flying Fleet came back in the second half. The Tornado tried to comeback late, but the Erskine lead was too much as the Tornado fell 79-75.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Erskine 79, King 75
LOCATION: Belk Arena; Due West, S.C.
RECORDS: King 2-6, 1-5 Conference Carolinas; Erskine 1-2, 1-2 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Erskine used a pair of runs early to gain the advantage, first a 7-0 spurt to open up an 11-4 lead, and then a 7-0 run after King scored seven straight to take an 18-11 lead.
- The Tornado then scored eight straight points as a JaMarquis Johnson jump shot gave King a 19-18 lead.
- King capped the 12-2 with a Brandon Lamberth bucket, giving the Tornado a 23-20 advantage.
- Back-to-back triples from Tyler Murray and Michael Mays stretched the Tornado lead to 34-24 with six minutes remaining in the first half.
- Lamberth and Mays made consecutive baskets, giving King a 42-33 lead before Erskine scored the final basket of the half that gave King a 42-35 lead at the break.
Second Half
- Erskine scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 43-42 lead four minutes in before Damion Ottman made a jump shot for the Tornado.
- Erskine then scored five straight to open up a 48-44 advantage.
- The Tornado deficit grew to 67-55 with seven minutes remaining before Ottman tried to get the King offense going with back-to-back baskets.
- The Tornado got within four, but the Flying Fleet connected from long range, stretching their lead back to 70-63.
- Connor Jordan connected from long range for the Tornado and Mays made a pair of free throws that pulled King within 74-71 with 37 seconds remaining.
- However, the Tornado couldn't get any closer as Erskine closed out the 79-75 win at the free throw line.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mays led the Tornado with 14 points while Jordan followed with 10 points.
- Lamberth added 10 points and six rebounds.
- Ottman contributed nine points and six assists while MJ Foust chipped in with six points and nine rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Travis Walters led four Erskine scorers in double figures with 16 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
- Matthew Brown added 13 points and seven rebounds and Emandi Brooks added 12 points and nine rebounds.
- Uzziah Dawkins chipped in with 10 points.
UP NEXT
- King returns home on Tuesday to face rival Lees-McRae College at 7:00 p.m.
- Erskine hosts Emmanuel College on Tuesday night.
