WISE, Va. – The King University men's basketball team opened their season on Saturday night at regional rival UVA Wise. The homestanding Cavaliers got off to a hot start, and the Tornado couldn't slow the UVA Wise offense down, falling 90-69.
THE BASICS
FINAL: UVA Wise 90, King 69
LOCATION: Prior Center; Wise, Va.
RECORDS: King 0-1; UVA Wise 1-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- UVA Wise jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Jordan Akal got the Tornado on the board with a fast break jump shot three minutes into the contest.
- The Cavaliers responded with eight straight points before Dami Farinloye knocked down a three-point basket and Myles McCrary followed with a fast break dunk.
- A Cam George triple pulled the Tornado within 14-10 with 14 minutes remaining in the half to cap the 7-0 Tornado run in less than one minute.
- UVA Wise came back with 11 straight points to take a 25-10 lead before another Akal jump shot.
- The King deficit grew to 39-19 with six minutes remaining in the half, but the Tornado worked their way back to within 43-31 with two minutes remaining following a pair of McCrary free throws.
- However, UVA Wise closed the half on a 5-1 run to hold a 48-32 lead at the break.
Second Half
- King opened the second half on a 9-2 run as an Akal triple pulled King within 50-41 five minutes into the half.
- However, UVA Wise responded with a 13-2 spurt to regain a 63-43 advantage before holding a 69-47 lead midway through the period.
- After the deficit grew to 78-52, Almando Cyrius knocked down a triple and Satchel Love made a jump shot and three-point basket for an 8-0 run to pull King within 78-60 with five minutes remaining.
- That was as close as the Tornado would get the rest of the way as UVA Wise took the contest 90-69.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Akal led the Tornado with 13 points while Mikhail Pocknett and George followed with nine points each.
- Pocknett added a team-high five rebounds as did Amarius Beasley and Love.
FOR THE FOES
- Zion Fruster led four UVA Wise scorers in double figures with 19 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists.
- Calen Lightford added 15 points while Patrick Shelly added 14 points and Zy'Ever Wingfield chipped in with 12 points.
UP NEXT
- King takes on Carson-Newman University on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at UVA Wise.
- UVA Wise face Lees-McRae College on Sunday afternoon.
