Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

WILKES-BARRE — Rivalries bring out the best and worst in teams, and the latest installment of the King’s vs Wilkes men’s basketball rivalry proved just that.

The difference this time around was all of the good tilted towards the Monarchs. They dominated the Colonels behind Noah Tanner’s big night to pull off the upset, 81-53, on Wednesday at Scandlon Gymnasium.

“We were ready to play today,” King’s coach J.P. Andrejko said. “We had a great start and did everything we wanted on both ends of the floor.”

Tanner finished the game an assist shy of a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. He also added five steals to his line.

“We just wanted to play our game and put a full game together,” Tanner said. “I didn’t realize I was an assist away from a triple-double, but my teammates helped me get them though because they have to make the shots and box the other guys out.”

King’s finished with four players in double figures with Joe Lonardi scoring a game-high 18 off the bench to go with nine rebounds. Andrew Hudak had 11 points with nine boards and Jake Pawliczak scored 10.

The Monarchs had opened the season 2-12 but have now posted back-to-back wins for the first time since winning three straight from Jan. 27-Feb. 3 of last year and are now 2-3 in MAC Freedom play. Against the Colonels, they shot 31-of-60 from the field (51.7 percent).

King’s came out early and made a statement when freshman JJ Glinsky made a three to open the game. The Monarchs took control from there and quickly found themselves up by double-digits within minutes.

Hudak and Tanner both led the Monarchs with nine points in the first half, but also were a plus 21 and 22, the highest for any other players. Tanner went into the half with six assists and three rebounds. King’s rolled on holding a 19-point lead, 45-26, at the break.

The onslaught continued into the second half as the Monarchs went up by as many as 25 to start the half. Tanner and the Monarchs continued to play motivated by the rivalry. Tanner continued to build on his big night as the Colonels struggled to find an answer for him.

Wilkes (11-5, 3-2) looked to have finally settled in with 10 minutes left in the game, as they cut into the deficit. They continued to fight but couldn’t get the Monarchs’ lead any lower than 18.

“We kept talking about it on the bench and knew we couldn’t let them get back into the game,” Andrejko said. “We knew we needed to play good defense, don’t turn the ball over, and take quality shots. Wilkes is a good team and we worked hard to get the lead and keep it.”

The Colonels shot under 30 percent from the floor for the game (18-for-61), including an 8-for-35 showing from three-point range. Rob Pecorelli had team-highs of 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three assists to lead Wilkes. Mark Mullins added 10 points and six boards.

Earlier in the week, Wilkes broke the NCAA Division III free throw record by going 33-for-33 from the stripe in a win. The Colonels hit their first three foul shots on Wednesday before finally missing, though they finished 9-for-11 from the game.

Eastern 75, Misericordia 67

Jason Kenny scored 27 points, but the Cougars’ rally fell short with cold shooting down the stretch, ending their four-game winning streak.

Kenny added seven rebounds while Tony Harding finished with 16 points and eight boards and Justin Iton scored 13.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

King’s 81, Wilkes 53

WILKES (53) — Connor Evans 0-4 0-0 0, Tommy Bowen 1-5 5-6 7, Marcus Robinson 3-14 0-0 7, Rob Pecorelli 4-12 4-4 15, Mark Mullins 5-9 0-1 10, Sean Coller 1-3 0-0 3, Drake Marshall 1-2 0-0 2, Jack Bova 3-6 0-0 9, Clay Basalyga 0-3 0-0 0, Noah Jackson 0-1 0-0 0, Cooper Chaffee 0-0 0-0 0, Zach Walser 0-1 0-0 0, Jake Robel 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-61 9-11 53.

KING’S (81) — JJ Glinsky 2-7 0-0 6, Noah Tanner 4-9 7-7 16, Tyler Millan 2-6 0-0 10, Jake Pawliczak 5-5 0-0 10, Andrew Hudak 5-9 1-2 11, Josh Bailey 0-3 0-0 0, Kevin Hunter 2-3 0-0 6, Joe Lonardi 8-11 2-5 18, James Willis 2-6 0-0 6, Pat Mitchell 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 31-60 10-14 81.

Halftime — King’s, 45-26

Three-point goals — WU 8-35 (Bova 3-6, Pecorelli 3-10, Coller 1-3, Robinson 1-9, Mullins 0-1, Bowen 0-1, Marshall 0-1, Evans 0-2, Basalyga 0-2) KC 9-25 (Hunter 2-3, Millan 2-5, Willis 2-5, Glinsky 2-7, Tanner 1-4, Bailey 0-1)

King’s guard Josh Bailey, front, gets tripped up in the lane by Wilkes guard Connor Evans in MAC Freedom Conference action Wednesday at Scandlon Gymnasium.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011719Kings-WilkesMEN_1.jpg.optimal.jpgKing’s guard Josh Bailey, front, gets tripped up in the lane by Wilkes guard Connor Evans in MAC Freedom Conference action Wednesday at Scandlon Gymnasium. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wilkes forward Tommy Bowen, center, gets fouled under the basket as a trio of King’s players converge Wednesday. The Colonels shot 9-of-11 from the line after an NCAA record 33-of-33 performance on Saturday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011719Kings-WilkesMEN_2.jpg.optimal.jpgWilkes forward Tommy Bowen, center, gets fouled under the basket as a trio of King’s players converge Wednesday. The Colonels shot 9-of-11 from the line after an NCAA record 33-of-33 performance on Saturday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

King’s forward Andrew Hudak, right, makes a move on Wilkes’ Zach Walser Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011719Kings-WilkesMEN_3.jpg.optimal.jpgKing’s forward Andrew Hudak, right, makes a move on Wilkes’ Zach Walser Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wilkes guard Marcus Robinson passes over King’s Andrew Hudak Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011719Kings-WilkesMEN_4.jpg.optimal.jpgWilkes guard Marcus Robinson passes over King’s Andrew Hudak Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

King’s guard Noah Tanner flips the ball to a teammate against the Wilkes defense Wednesday night. Tanner finished an assist shy of a triple-double.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011719Kings-WilkesMEN_5.jpg.optimal.jpgKing’s guard Noah Tanner flips the ball to a teammate against the Wilkes defense Wednesday night. Tanner finished an assist shy of a triple-double. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Ben Mandell

For Times Leader