CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Patrick Fox (Eden, N.C. , Morehead)and Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook)each sank three three-pointers in the second half to help Queens University of Charlotte defeat Lees-McRae College 78-70. The two would combine for 43 of the 78 points, propelling the Royals to their first win of the season.
Queens (1-3/1-0 Conference Carolinas) held a 15 point lead, 20-5, just a little under the midway mark in the first half. As it looked like the game might get away from the visiting Bobcats (0-6/0-1 CC), three-pointers from Aaron Woodacre and Reshon Benjamin put the teams within six of each other.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Queen was up by one until a buzzer-beating shot by Fox gave the Royals a 32-28 advantage heading to the locker room. The three-pointer would turn out to be a small preview of the second half.
The Royals came out ready to play, still riding off of the impressive Fox three at the buzzer. Queens quickly opened the lead up to nine. The Bobcats were able trim the lead down and eventually tie it up with 10:48 to play.
Fox retook the lead for Queens with one of his five threes in the game. One the next possession he added three more with a shot from behind the arc. From there, Fox and Hopkins would score 12 of the next 17 Queens points.
Woodacre sank a three to put Lees-McRae just four behind with 44 seconds to go, but clutch free throws from J.B. Baldwin, Charles Burgess and Fox kept the Royals on top for the remainder of the contest.
Fox led the team with 23, hitting five of eight threes. Hopkins, who did not make a single shot in the first half, put away three long bombs and six field goals plus five free throws to score 20. Around the glass Kevin Fowler (Mexico, N.Y. , Mexico Academy) pulled down nine boards and also put up nine points.
Queens continued to improve its overall shooting, making 27 of 59 field goals for a 45.8%.
Lees-McRae was led by Nick Deschepper with 20 points. Kyle Boardman followed with 11 and eight rebounds.
Queens travels to Lander University on Monday for a 7pm contest.
