FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The King University men's basketball team traveled to face one of the top teams in the region, and Conference Carolinas foe Emmanuel University on Saturday afternoon. The Lions turned in one of their best shooting performances of the season to down the Tornado 89-64.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Emmanuel 89, King 64
LOCATION: Shaw Athletic Center; Franklin Springs, Ga.
RECORDS: King 2-7, 0-3 Conference Carolinas; Emmanuel 9-3, 3-2 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- The first half was a half of runs as the Lions shot nearly 80 percent from the floor and 60 percent from three-point range.
- On the other end, King shot only 33.3 percent from the floor and 23.1 percent from long range.
- Jordan Akal gave King an early 3-2 lead with a triple, but the Lions came back with five straight points to regain the lead.
- Emmanuel then went on an 11-2 run, including nine straight to take a 21-9 advantage with 12 minutes remaining in the half.
- However, King responded with an 8-2 spur started by three points from Kenny Turner and a triple from Dami Farinloye.
- An Eli Elson pulled King within 23-17 with a layup to cap the spurt, the Lions responded.
- Emmanuel went on a 13-2 run, including nine straight to take a 36-19 lead before Mikhail Pocknett recorded a three-point for the Tornado.
- The Lions then scored eight straight before a Pocknett layup in the final minutes.
- Following an Emmanuel basket, Seth Cullen capped the first half scoring with a triple at the buzzer, but King trialed 46-27.
Second Half
- The Tornado tried to comeback early in the second half, but the Lions had an answer for each Tornado basket to hold their sizable advantage.
- The Emmanuel shooting cooled a little in the second half, but the Lions shot better than 70 percent in the contest and pulled away late to take the game 89-64.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Turner led the Tornado with season-highs of 15 points and seven rebounds.
- Cullen followed with 12 points while Pockenett added nine points, seven rebounds and three assists.
- The Tornado shot 36.9 percent from the floor.
FOR THE FOES
- The Lions shot 71.4 percent from the floor, their best of the season.
- KJ Jones led the Lions with 31 points on 10-for-14 shooting. He added three rebounds and three assists.
- Kendall Latney added 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting.
- Nate Gordon snared a game-high 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
- King is in action again on Tuesday when they host Lander University at 12:00 p.m. in the Student Center Complex.
- Emmanuel returns to action on Tuesday at August University.
