Bristol, Tenn. – King University men's basketball came up one point shy in a hard-fought contest Tuesday afternoon, falling to Converse 68–67 at the Student Center Complex. The Tornado dropped to 1–8 overall and 0–3 in Conference Carolinas play, while the Valkyries improved to 4–5 (3–2 Conference Carolinas).
Game Flow
King held a narrow 29–24 lead at halftime, fueled by strong inside play and balanced scoring. Converse responded in the second half, shooting nearly 59 percent from the field and outscoring the Tornado 44–38. The game featured six ties and two lead changes, with Converse ultimately edging King in the closing minutes to secure the one-point victory.
King Highlights
- Xavier Betancourt led all scorers with 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting, adding six rebounds and two steals.
- Jordan Akal scored 13 points, hitting two three-pointers and grabbing six rebounds.
- Lenier Pocknett was efficient off the bench, scoring 10 points and pulling down six boards.
- Petar Mijatovic added seven points and six rebounds, while Djae Eason Jr. chipped in five points.
- King shot 44.3 percent from the field (27-of-61), but struggled from deep, hitting just 15 percent (3-of-20).
Key Stats
- Rebounds: Converse 37, King 36
- Second-Chance Points: King 12, Converse 10
- Points in the Paint: King 36, Converse 34
- Points off Turnovers: King 23, Converse 11
- Bench Points: King 24, Converse 13
Conclusion
Despite Betancourt's standout performance and King's advantage in points off turnovers, the Tornado couldn't overcome Converse's hot shooting from beyond the arc. The narrow defeat marked King's third conference loss, though the team showed resilience in a back-and-forth battle.
Next Game
The Tornado will return to action on Thursday, December 18, hosting Bluefield State at the Student Center Complex. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
