MARCH 5, 2005
BOB ZIADIE
KING'S MEN HOLD OFF ALBRIGHT TO POST 57-55 WIN IN
NCAA SECOND-ROUND GAME
WILKES-BARRE -- Senior forward Brian Horgan netted a
game-high 23 points and freshman guard Jamie Cousart made three-of-four
foul shots over the final 0:32 of regulation to lead the King's College
men's basketball team to a 57-55 victory over visiting Albright College in
an NCAA Division III National Tournament second-round game Saturday in
Scandlon Gymnasium.
With the win, King's set a new single-season
school-record for wins, improving to 23-5 and advancing
to the NCAA "Sweet 16" for the first time in school
history. Albright closed out its season with a fine 21-7 mark.
Trailing 43-42, the Monarchs took a 46-43 on
back-to-back baskets from Marty O'Hora with 4:39 remaining. Greg Conroy
then buried a three-pointer for Albright to knot the score at 46-46 with
3:28 left.
Horgan was fouled and converted both charity tosses
to put King's on top 48-46 with 3:21 on the clock. After an Albright
miss, O'Hora rebounded and was fouled and made one-of-two foul shots to
extend the lead to 49-46 with 3:11 left. Trevor Deeter would then
score to bring Albright to within 49-48 with 3:01 remaining.
King's would then stretch the lead to 51-48 on a
short jumper by Horgan with 2:05 left, but Matt Kieselowsky brought the
Lions to within 51-50 with a bucket. On King's next possession with the
shot clock running down, senior guard Landon Gabriel buried a huge
three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Monarchs a 54-50 lead
with 1:28 on the clock. But the Lions fought back when Andy Winebrenner
drilled a three-pointer of his own to draw the Lions to within 54-53 with
1:18 left.
After a King's miss, Shane Harvey was fouled and
went to the line for a one-and-one. But the Albright sophomore missed the
front end and the Monarchs would secure the rebound with 0:52 left.
From there Cousart was fouled with 0:32 on the clock
and made both free throws to give King's a 56-53 lead. After a
costly Albright turnover, Vince Scalzo's three-pointer was off the mark
for but Cousart came up with a critical offensive rebound and was fouled
on the play. The Monarch rookie made one-of-two shots to give King's a
57-53 advantage with 0:10 remaining.
Deeter would score an uncontested lay-up with 0:05
left to close the gap to 57-55. King's would then throw a three-quarter
court pass to a wide-open O'Hora who inexplicably passed up on a wide open
lay-up and attempted to run out the clock. O'Hora would attempt a
cross-court pass which eventually wound up in the hands of Winebrenner, who launched a shot just beyond half court
as the clock expired with the ball narrowly bouncing off the back of the rim.
Horgan, who moved into third-place on King's
all-time scoring list with 1,599 points, paced King's with 23 points, six rebounds,
and four steals while O'Hora followed with 11 points and seven boards.
Cousart chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds while Gabriel
contributed eight points and three assists.
Deeter led Albright with 16 points and nine boards
while Kieselowsky followed with nine points. Shane Harvey netted seven
points while Winebrenner tallied six. Lee Walter hauled down a game-high
10 boards for the Lions.
The Monarchs, who are making their first NCAA
appearance since 1992, reached the "Sweet 16" for the first time
in school history under the guidance of fourth-year mentor J.P. Andrejko.
King's will next compete in the sectional finals
slated for Friday and Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
The Monarchs will face Ramapo College, a 105-80 winner over New York Tech,
in the "Sweet 16" on Friday.
