With the win, King's improved to 14-7 overall and 8-2 in the Freedom Conference while DeSales slipped to 15-6 and 6-4. The victory also moved the Monarchs into sole possession of first-place in the Freedom Conference following Scranton's 79-72 upset loss at FDU-Florham, also on Saturday.
In the first half, DeSales led 10-8 but used an 10-2 surge to build an 20-10 lead with 11:49 remaining following a pair of three-pointers by Eddie Ohlson and baskets by Ed Lapinski and Matt Zwetolitz. King's would slowly chip away and cut the lead to 30-29 following back-t-back three0pointers by Kofi Dwebeng and Vince Sobocinski with 3:53 left in the half. After a Zwetolitz bucket gave the Bulldogs a 32-29 advantage, King's used a 9-0 run, keyed by five straight points by Bob Nenstiel as the Monarchs took their first lead of the game at 37-32 with 1:15 remaining in the opening stanza.
DeSales, however, would answer with a bucket by Lapinski with 0:52 left, followed by a big three-pointer from Darnell Braswell with 0:03 remaining to send the teams into the halftime break deadlocked at 37-37.
In the second half DeSales quickly recaptured a 41-40 lead on consecutive baskets by Phil Stricker and Steve Kriczky, but the Monarchs countered with a 6-0 spurt thanks to a bucket from Dwebeng, a three-pointer by Sobocinski, and one-of-two foul shots by Vince Scalzo as the Monarchs led 46-41 with 15:37 remaining.
The Monarchs would eventually built the eight point leads on three separate occasions, the last coming when a Welsh bucket gave King's a 59-51 lead with 10:10 on the clock. The Bulldogs would use six straight points to close to within 59-57 on a Steve Kriczky bucket with 7:53 left, but he Monarchs would respond with a 10-6 spurt to build the lead back to 69-63 with 2:50 left after four straight foul shots from Jamie Cousart.
DeSales would battle back, eventually cutting the lead to 71-70 with just 0:16 after four straight foul shots from Stricker. Following Stricker's charity tosses, the Monarchs were unable to inbound the ball and were whistled for a five-second count, giving DeSales the ball under the King's basket with 0:16 still remaining.
DeSales would miss two consecutive shots before Sobocinski rebounded and was fouled with 0:01 left. The Monarch senior made both free throws to up the lead to 73-70. DeSales had one last chance to send the game into overtime but Lapinski launched a desperation shot from near half court that fell well short as the Monarchs held on for the all-important victory.
Dwebeng led King's with 15 points and four rebounds while Cousart added 13 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Nenstiel followed with 12 points while Sobocinski tallied 11 points.
Braswell and Kriczky netted 15 points each to lead DeSales while Stricker and Zwetolitz followed with 10 each.
King's returns to action Wednesday when the Monarchs host Lycoming at 8:00 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.
KING'S COLLEGE 73, DESALES UNIVERSITY 70
DESALES UNIVERSITY (15-6/6-4 Freedom)
Steve Kriczky 6-14 1-1 15; Darnell Braswell 5-7 0-0 15; Phil Stricker 3-7 6-8 12; Matt Zwetolitz 5-8 0-0 10; Eddie Ohlson 3-3 0-0 9; Ed Lapinski 3-8 1-2 7; Sedale Walton 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 26-50 8-11 70.
KING'S COLLEGE (14-7/8-2 Freedom)
Kofi Dwebeng 5-12 3-3 15; Jamie Cousart 4-12 5-6 13; Bob Nenstiel 5-7 0-0 12; Vince Sobocinski 3-4 2-2 11; Vince Scalzo 4-8 1-3 9; John Soboleski 2-5 2-4 6; Jim Welsh 2-6 0-0 5; Ryan Nenstiel 1-3 0-0 2; Jared Black 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-58 13-18 73.
DeSales University............ 37 33 - 70
King's College................... 37 36 - 73
3-point goals-DeSales University 10-23 (Darnell Braswell 5-6; Eddie Ohlson 3-3; Steve Kriczky 2-9; Ed Lapinski 0-3; Matt Zwetolitz 0-2), King's College 8-21 (Vince Sobocinski 3-4; Kofi Dwebeng 2-2; Bob Nenstiel 2-3; Jim Welsh 1-5; Ryan Nenstiel 0-2; Jared Black 0-1; Vince Scalzo 0-1; Jamie Cousart 0-3).
Fouled out--DeSales University-None, King's College-None.
Rebounds-DeSales University 26 (Matt Zwetolitz 7), King's College 32 (John Soboleski 8).
Assists-DeSales University 21 (Eddie Ohlson 9), King's College 18 (Jamie Cousart 8).
Total fouls-DeSales University 17, King's College 13.
A-675
KING'S COLLEGE 73, DESALES UNIVERSITY 70 DESALES UNIVERSITY (15-6/6-4 Freedom) Steve Kriczky 6-14 1-1 15; Darnell Braswell 5-7 0-0 15; Phil Stricker 3-7 6-8 12; Matt Zwetolitz 5-8 0-0 10; Eddie Ohlson 3-3 0-0 9; Ed Lapinski 3-8 1-2 7; Sedale Walton 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 26-50 8-11 70. KING'S COLLEGE (14-7/8-2 Freedom) Kofi Dwebeng 5-12 3-3 15; Jamie Cousart 4-12 5-6 13; Bob Nenstiel 5-7 0-0 12; Vince Sobocinski 3-4 2-2 11; Vince Scalzo 4-8 1-3 9; John Soboleski 2-5 2-4 6; Jim Welsh 2-6 0-0 5; Ryan Nenstiel 1-3 0-0 2; Jared Black 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-58 13-18 73. DeSales University............ 37 33 - 70 King's College................... 37 36 - 73 3-point goals-DeSales University 10-23 (Darnell Braswell 5-6; Eddie Ohlson 3-3; Steve Kriczky 2-9; Ed Lapinski 0-3; Matt Zwetolitz 0-2), King's College 8-21 (Vince Sobocinski 3-4; Kofi Dwebeng 2-2; Bob Nenstiel 2-3; Jim Welsh 1-5; Ryan Nenstiel 0-2; Jared Black 0-1; Vince Scalzo 0-1; Jamie Cousart 0-3). Fouled out--DeSales University-None, King's College-None. Rebounds-DeSales University 26 (Matt Zwetolitz 7), King's College 32 (John Soboleski 8). Assists-DeSales University 21 (Eddie Ohlson 9), King's College 18 (Jamie Cousart 8). Total fouls-DeSales University 17, King's College 13. A-675