BRISTOL, Tenn. -- The King University men's basketball team held off a second-half rally from Bluefield State College to win their nonconference tilt 96-91 Wednesday night.
Michael Mays led the Tornado, scoring 15 points and going 6-of-6 from the free throw line while
Brandon Lamberth recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 96, Bluefield State 91
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 7-6; Bluefield State 1-9
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- The Big Blue came out of the gates on fire, scoring the first eight points, six of which came from Marquez Cooper.
- After both the Tornado and Big Blue traded buckets, King went six consecutive points, cutting the lead to 10-8.Â
- The Big Blue continued to lead until the 9:45 mark, when Blake Atwood tied the game with a layup. After a Bluefield State turnover, Isaiah Curry made a layup to give King a 22-20 lead.
- King started to pull away with four minutes left, as Jaylen Bernard hit a jumper that kicked off a 9-2 run that spanned just 55 seconds and ballooned the Tornado lead to 42-33.
- The Tornado would score eight points over the final minutes of the half to take a 49-41 lead into the locker room.
Second Half
- King started the second half where they left off in the first, going on a 9-2 run to take a 58-43 lead.
- The Big Blue came alive with 13 minutes to go, kicking off a 11-0 run to get to within 69-68. King was able to get a little breathing room when Atwood hit a short jumper, making it a 71-68 game.
- Bluefield State took the lead with 10:23 remaining before Lamberth nailed a jumper with an assist to Amarius Beasley, to give King a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
- Lamberth followed that with a steal, and fed Beasley who made a layup, extending the Tornado advantage.
- The Big Blue were able to get to within two points on multiple occasions, but the Tornado refused to give up the lead.
- King took a nine point led with 2:28 to go on a thunderous dunk from MJ Foust before going 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the closing minutes to take home the win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Four Tornado scored in double digits, led by 15 points from Mays and 12 points from both Curry and Lamberth. Darron Howard added 11 points.
- Lamberth finished with a double-double, pulling 12 rebounds as well.
- Desmond Davis, Beasley and Kenny Turner all dished out two assists, with Turner recording three steals as well.
FOR THE FOES
- Cooper and Ryan Stowers both has 28 points for Bluefield State, with Cooper adding three rebounds to the mix.
- Dj McDonald pulled 10 rebounds in 23 minutes played.
- Hirotaka Ohashi and Khamaury McMillan had the two assists for the Big Blue.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- Lamberth's 12 rebounds sets a new career high.
- Bernard finished with a career-high six points.
- Mays has now scored in double figures in three straight games, and has done so in every game this season except for one.
- As a team, King finished with five blocks and 13 steals, both of which are their second-most of the season.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado are on the road Saturday, as they return to Conference Carolinas play to face Belmont Abbey College with tipoff set for 4:30 p.m.
- Bluefield State will be at home Thursday to host Kentucky State University before traveling to face Salem University Saturday. The Tornado and Big Blue will face off again Tuesday night in Bluefield, W.Va.
