BRISTOL, Tenn. –
Brandon Lamberth scored a career-high 21 points and
Kenny Turner recorded his first career double-double Tuesday afternoon as the King University men's basketball team fended off a stiff challenge from the Erskine Flying Fleet to pick up a 92-88 overtime win.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 92, Erskine 88 (Overtime)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 2-3, 1-0 Conference Carolinas; Erskine 0-6, 0-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- The Tornado jumped out to an early 7-2 lead off buckets from Turner, a fastbreak layup from Michael Mays and a three from Jordan Akal.
- After Erskine closed the lead to 11-8, Turner hit a layup, drew the foul and hit the ensuing free throw, which was followed by Mays hitting a jumper to extend the advantage to 14-8.
- The lead would continue to grow, as Akal hit a fastbreak jumper to hand the Tornado their largest lead of the half, 21-12 with 12:19 to play.
- King started to pull away near the end of the half, scoring six straight points, including a short jumper from Malik Payton that made it a 37-30 game with just under a minute to play.
- Turner would close the half with a jumper in the final seconds to hand King a 41-34 lead heading into the locker room.
Second Half
- It was Erskine who started the second half hot, as they scored eight of the first 10 points to take the lead, 42-41.
- The Flying Fleet would increase their lead to as many as eight with 10:43 to play.
- A layup from Turner started the Tornado rally, including the ensuing free throw that trimmed it to 61-56.
- Darron Howard hit a jumper to bring the Tornado to within 61-60 with just over eight minutes remaining.
- Howard tied the game at 67 by hitting a fastbreak three, then after grabbing the defensive rebound would hit the layup that gave King a narrow lead.
- The score was tied at 73 with five seconds left, but a final three attempt came up short, sending the game to overtime.
Overtime
- Lamberth wasted no time in the extra session, drilling a three just 11 seconds into the session to put King back in front.
- The lead would increase to six on multiple occasions, but Erskine wouldn't go down without a fight.
- After the Flying Fleet got to within two with three seconds to play, Mays stepped to the free throw line and hit a pair of free throws to ice the game and hand King their second win of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Turner finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds, marking his first career double-double. The 17 points is also a new career-high, as is the 14 rebounds.
- Lamberth ended up with 21 points and seven rebounds while going 8-of-11 from the free throw line. The 21 points eclipses his previous career high, which was 17 points last season against Emmanuel.
- Mays added 19 points and six rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Five different Flying Fleet scored in double figures, led by 23 from Tavis Bridges and 17 from Lanyc Shuler.
- Jaylen Prioleay pulled nine rebounds, with Bridges adding eight.
UP NEXT
- After a break for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Tornado play a nonconference matchup Sunday at Lander.
- Erskine will play at Carson-Newman on Saturday afternoon.
