BRISTOL, TENN. – Christian Koonce poured in a career-high 32 points to lift the Chowan Men's Basketball team to a 100-89 Conference Carolinas victory over King in league action on Sunday afternoon.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 100, King 89

RECORDS | Chowan 13-11 (11-8), King 6-20 (5-14)

LOCATION | Bristol, Tenn. (Student Activity Center)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Christian Koonce scored a career-high 32 points, sixth most in Chowan's DII history, on 14-21 shooting (tied for most in Chowan's DII history).  Jay Estime chipped in with 14 points.

Daylan Askew, RJ Wilson, Isaac Hippolyte, and Skyler Davies tallied nine points each.  Chowan went 26-35 from the free throw line.

The win secured a postseason berth for the men in the Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championships, only the second time since joining in 2019-20.

The win also marked the first non-losing season for the Hawks since 2016-17.  Chowan eclipsed the century mark for the third time this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half:

Chowan started off the contest hot as Isaac Hippolyte posted a jumper to start the scoring.  Christian Koonce scored a pair of baskets before Jay Estime and Hippolyte connected from deep.  Estime hit another triple along with a pair of free throws by Daylan Askew and a putback by Cheick Traore pushed the lead to 19-4.

Donavon Martin flushed home a dunk following a steal.  Preston Le Gassick knocked down a three-pointer to push the advantage to 24-9.  Jay Estime hit a three-pointer prior to a three-point play by Christian Koonce pushed the lead back to double-digits.

Cheick Traore posted a jumper along with a pair of free throws by Preston Le Gassick and a three-point play by Daylan Askew allowed the Hawks maintain their lead.  Skyler Davies collected a layup along with a basket by Isaac Hippolyte and Christian Koonce stretched the lead to 43-26.

Chowan picked up points at the line before Christian Koonce added the next three baskets to end the half to give the Hawks a 53-35 lead at the intermission.

Second Half:

Christian Koonce started the scoring with six points along with a three-pointer by Skyler Davies kept the Hawks in the lead, 62-46.  Jay Estime and Veigar Alexandersson added a basket each as King closed the gap to 10, 66-56.  Donavon Martin posted a dunk and Davies added a three-pointer play to push the lead back out.

Isaac Hippolyte added a basket before Christian Koonce secured a pair from the line on technical free throws and a jumper.  King would inch closer from free throws that sparked an 18-4 run to even the score at 81-all.

Jay Estime and RJ Wilson picked up free throws to give the Hawks the advantage back.  Christian Koonce hit a pair of jumpers and Daylan Askew added a pair of free throws to lead 94-85.  Wilson and Koonce picked up a point at the stripe before Koonce finished off his scoring output with a fastbreak dunk.

UP NEXT

Chowan heads into the regular season finale with a rivalry contest against Barton on Wednesday, February 22.  Senior Day and Play4Kay will be the theme for the contest.  Tip-off is slated for 7pm.