Charlotte, NC - King University (TN) defeated Johnson & Wales 80-75 in the Wildcats' first home game of 2024 on Monday night.

JWU found themselves in another tight contest in the first half as neither team led by more than four points over the final sixteen minutes of the first half. Ethan Smith and Jaben Mars each scored 10 points in the stanza, going a combined 9 of 13 from the field to keep the Wildcats within striking distance of the Tornado.

King began to separate themselves from the Wildcats across the middle ten minutes of the second half, leading by as many as twelve, and held a ten point lead with 3:48 left at 74-64. JWU used an 11-4 spurt over the next three minutes, capped off by a Smith three pointer, to trim the deficit to just three points at 78-75. The Wildcats had a chance to tie on their next possession after getting a defensive stop, but could not convert.

Smith scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Wildcats. Jaylen Benson-Hollinhead posted his third consecutive double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Nathan Meshida had 11 points and Mars finished with 10 points and 8 boards.

The Wildcats return home on Saturday, January 13th to host Bob Jones at 3pm.