King Athletics
Travis Chell, Director of Athletic Communications
BRISTOL – It wasn’t easy, but the 25th-ranked King University men’s basketball team clinched at least a share of the Conference Carolinas regular season title on Wednesday night in the Student Center Complex. Jordan Floyd poured in a school-record 47 points, including the game-winner with 5.7 seconds remaining in overtime as King escaped with a 97-95 win over Erskine College.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- The Tornado (20-6, 14-4) offense struggle in the first half, shooting only 37.1 percent from the floor while Erskine (7-17, 4-14) shot 48.5 percent from the floor.
- King held a 12-8 lead in the early going, but a 6-0 Erskine run put the Flying Fleet ahead and they stayed there for the majority of the half.
- Erskine 10 of the final 13 points of the opening half, including seven straight to take a 40-33 lead at the break.
Second Half
- Mike Salomon opened the second half on a mission, drilling three straight triple to even the score at 42 as Erskine called timeout two minutes into the half.
- However, Erskine responded by scoring eight straight points, opening up their largest lead of the night at 50-42 with 16 minutes remaining.
- Every time the Tornado got close early in the half, Erskine had an answer and extended their lead.
- Midway through the half, the Tornado offense took off. Consecutive triple from Salomon and Floyd gave King a 66-65 lead.
- Floyd then drilled another trifecta, giving King a 71-65 lead with eight minutes remaining as the Flying Fleet called timeout.
- Out of the break, Erskine scored six straight points, ended the longest run of the night for the Tornado, 13-0.
- The teams then traded blows down the stretch and King held an 85-82 lead following a Floyd basket with 48 seconds remaining.
- However, Emandi Brooks connected from long range to even the score with 27 seconds remaining.
- The final attempt for the Tornado was off the mark, sending the game to overtime.
- King shot 62.5 percent in the second half, but the Flying Fleet made 75.0 percent of their shots.
Overtime
- Floyd started the extra session with a three-point play, but the Flying Fleet came back and evened the score.
- Josh Releford beat the shot clock with a deep three-point basket that vaulted the Tornado into a 95-93 lead with 1.51 remaining.
- Erskine evened the score with 34 seconds remaining has King head coach George Pitts called timeout.
- Out of the break, Floyd pulled-up from the right block and made the jump shot with 5.7 seconds remaining.
- The final effort for Erskine was off the mark, giving King the 97-95 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Floyd poured in 47 points, 34 in the second half and overtime.
- Salomon followed with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
- Releford added 15 points and Damion Ottman snared 10 rebounds and added seven points.
FOR THE FOES
- Trent Smoot Jr. led Erskine with 23 points while Jaywaun Washington followed with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
- Malcolm Green added 20 points and Jordan Watson chipped in with 18 points and six rebounds.
The overtime contest was the second time in as many weeks the teams went to overtime. Two weeks ago, King defeated Erskine 106-102 in double overtime in Due West, S.C.
Floyd broke his own school record of 43 points, which he set four times, with 47 points.
King next travels to Limestone College on Saturday. Tipoff from Gaffney, S.C. is scheduled for 4 p.m.