BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's basketball team earned its first victory of the 2025–26 season Tuesday night, defeating Alice Lloyd 87–72 inside the Student Center Complex. The Tornado (1–6, 0–1 Conference Carolinas) used a strong first half and balanced scoring attack to pull away from the Eagles (0–1) and capture the home win in front of 143 fans.
First Half
King came out energized, shooting nearly 44 percent from the field and knocking down seven three-pointers in the opening half. The Tornado built a 46–31 lead at the break behind the hot hand of
Mica Merriman, who scored 10 of his team-high 16 points before halftime.
Xavier Betancourt added nine points in the first half, while
Jeremias Berchal and
Jordan Akal chipped in key baskets to keep the momentum rolling.
Second Half
Alice Lloyd improved offensively after halftime, shooting 55 percent from the floor, but King maintained control thanks to timely shooting and rebounding. Betancourt finished with
15 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Berchal added
13 points and 8 rebounds. Akal scored
12 points, and
Djae Eason Jr. recorded a double-double with
12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Tornado dominated the glass, outrebounding Alice Lloyd 53–42, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities with 26 points. King also showed depth, with 28 points coming from the bench.
Match Highlights
- Final Score: King 87, Alice Lloyd 72
- Score by Half: King 46–41 | Alice Lloyd 31–41
- King Leaders:
Looking Ahead
King will look to build on its first win of the season when the Tornado travel to Banner Elk, N.C., to face
Lees-McRae on
Saturday, December 6 at 4:00 p.m. in Conference Carolinas action.
