BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's basketball team dropped their nonconference matchup Tuesday afternoon, falling 73-42 to Lander University.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Lander 73, King 42
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 2-8; Lander 8-2
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- King got on the board with 17:34 to play when Mikhail Pocknett recorded a steal and fed Amarius Beasley, who hit the driving layup.
- The Bearcats lead reached 11-6 with 12:41 remaining, but Pocknett hit a pull-up jumper with 11:55 left to bring King to within three. A minute later, Satchel Love added a hook shot, pulling within 11-10.
- Lander would then score the next eight points, pulling ahead to a 19-10 lead before Kenny Turner hit a three to stop the run.
- Turner continued to pull the Tornado closer, hitting a free throw and a driving layup to make it 19-16 with under three minutes left.
- The Bearcats scored the final seven points, taking a 26-16 lead into halftime.
Second Half
- It was a furious start to the half, as both teams scored in the first two minutes, with Turner hitting a driving layup for the Tornado.
- The Bearcats took a 37-20 advantage with 15:58 left, later extending the lead to 40-22.
- Josh Jackson hit a floating jumper with 9:43 left, bringing King to within 48-28. It also kickstarted a 6-5 Tornado scoring run that Jackson solidified it with a three ball, making it 53-33.
- Lander ended the game on a 20-9 scoring run, with Jordan Akal and Almando Cyrius hitting driving layups in the final minute.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Turner finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Jackson finished with 10 in his first action of the season, shooting 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
- Mikhail Pocknett had 10 rebounds for King, with Akal adding eight.
FOR THE FOES
- Tommy Moore led all scorers with 14 points, while Inady Legiste and Torrin Andrews both scoring 10.
- Ajang Aguek had nine rebounds while Legiste had eight.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Tornado will play at Western Carolina University on Dec. 30 before returning to Conference Carolinas action Jan. 3 against Belmont Abbey College.
- Lander will host USC Aiken Jan. 3.
