FEBRUARY 1, 2006
MONARCH MEN'S HOLD OFF SCRANTON TO POST 77-75 LEAD TO FORGE
FIRST-PLACE CONFERENCE TIE WITH WILKES
WILKES-BARRE -- Jamie Cousart and Jim Welsh combined to make three of
four shots over the final 0:16 of overtime as the King's College men's
basketball team held off the University of Scranton 77-75 Wednesday in
Scandlon Gymnasium.
With the win, King's improved to 13-7 and moved into a first-place tie
with Wilkes University at 7-2 in conference play. Wilkes dropped a 77-69
verdict at home to Lycoming.
King's led by as many as 11 points in the second half before Scranton
roared back. With the Monarchs holding a 65-63 lead. Scranton sent
the game into overtime when Ryan Kirk made two foul shots with 0:24
left. The Monarchs had a chance to win the game but Welsh's three-point
attempt with 0:03 left fell short of the basket.
In overtime, Scranton took a 68-65 lead on a three-pointer from Darren
Cannon ,but Kofi Dwebeng countered with a short jumper to bring King's
within 68-67. After the teams traded baskets, Vince Scalzo gave King's a
71-70 lead with a bucket.
Scranton would tie the score at 71-71 when Randy Arnold hit one of two
foul shots. After a King's Arnold hit two more foul shots to give the
Royals a 73-71 lead with 1:37 left. Scalzo then converted a
traditional three-point play to give the Monarchs a 74-73 lead with 1:21
left.
After a Scranton miss, Cousart was fouled and made both charity tosses
to put the Monarchs ahead 76-73 with 0:16 left. Scranton would
close to within 76-75 when Tom Bicknell scored with 0:03 remaining.
Welsh was then fouled on the inbound pass with 0:03.8 left and made the
second of two foul shots to give King's a 77-75 lead. Arnold would
then hoist a near half-court desperation shot at the buzzer which fell
far short of the rim as the Monarchs held on for the victory.
Cousart led King's with 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists
while Scalzo added 18 points and seven boards. Dwebeng chipped din with
13 points as the Monarchs have now won 11 of their last 12 games.
Scranton was led by Arnold and Kirk with 18 points each while Cannon and
Bicknell added 11 and 10 respectively.
King's will return to action Saturday when the Monarchs travel to Center
Valley to face DeSales University at 3:00 p.m. in Billera Hall.
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