WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (January 12, 2019) - The FDU-Florham men's basketball team was bested by King's College 81-71 Saturday afternoon.
The loss dropped the Devils to 4-11, 1-3 in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom. King's improved to 3-12, 1-3 in conference play.
The hosts tallied the eight of the first 10 points of the contest, with the Devils notching their first basket 4:15 into the game. With score 12-4 in favor of the Monarch's, the Devils reeled off six straight points, including four from junior
Andy Fleurantin. A triple from senior
Tyler Christie leveled the game at 17 before a 6-0 run capped off by a
Darren Davy layup gave FDU their largest lead of the day at 23-19.
In the game of runs, King's answered back with nine of their own before two from the charity courtesy of sophomore
Shawn Smith ended the run. The would be the only points FDU scored during a 16-2 Monarch run which saw the lead swell to 13. The teams entered the halftime break with King's leading by 12.
Despite surrendering the first four points of the second stanza, the Devils used a 5-0 rally to bring the deficit down to single digits with 14:31 left in frame. FDU went on a 7-0 tear midway through the period bringing the gap down to four points after junior
Kenneth LaRocca hit two from the free throw line.
Senior
Anthony Mitchell made it a one possession affair, as he knocked down a trey off a Fleurantin assist. The Devils continued to fight back, tallying five straight finished off with a three-pointer from sophomore
Oliver Ortman. They were unable to get any closer, as a three-pointer from King's with 1:04 remaining pushed the lead back to double-digits.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Devils outscored King's 42-40 in the second half.
- FDU held a 19-9 edge in points off turnovers, and forced the Monarchs into 18 turnovers.
- Led by seven from Davy, the Devils made a season-high 29 free-throws.
- Ortman and Smith each four of the season-high tying 11 steals.
UP NEXT
The Devils return back home Wednesday, hosting Delaware Valley at 6 p.m. The teams split the two matchups last season, with FDU picking up a 70-63 win at home.
