CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Conference Carolinas pairing of Queens University of Charlotte (2-9 overall/1-3 CC)   and Limestone College (4-8 overall/3-3 CC) was a battle until the final buzzer. The teams fought from a tied halftime score to finish with a four point difference, 61-57, in favor of the visiting Saints.

The first half was action packed with the game going back and forth the entire 20 minutes. Queens jumped out to a seven point lead with the help of a 6-0 run. The Royals controlled the flow of the game and help the seven points through12 minutes.

A bucket from Anthony Middleton tied the game at 16 with 8:32 left to play. In the remaining time the contest had a tie score five times and each team held the lead once. The buzzer sounded and the teams went to the locker room deadlocked at 32 each.

Queens and Limestone were close in every statistical category during the half. Queens did hold an advantage in rebounds, 19-16, but the Saints had three fewer turnovers, 11-8.  The Royals used the rebounds to score eight second chance points, while the Saints scored four.

The second half was a repeat of the first, both teams holding leads, never more than seven, and going down to the buzzer.

Queens broke the halftime tie and was able to pull away by six, 16:27. In the following six minutes, the Royals held the Saints to just three buckets, while they were able to sink six holding a three point lead, 44-41.

The combination of Marvin Flemming's field goals and Shawn Creal's three gave the Saints a two-point advantage. The Saints would score just three more field goals in the game, but eight free throw conversions in the same time to build a lead over the Royals.

Sean Eads (Greenville, S.C., Eastside) sank a free throw with six ticks left on the clock to trail Limestone by just two points. Queens ran out of time and Limestone was able to win 61-57.

Charles Burgess (Spartanburg, S.C., Boiling Springs) led the Royals with 13. Daniel Bailey (Irmo, S.C., Hammond ) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Eads contributed 10.

Middleton scored the game-high 18 points and contributed six rebounds. Tryon Evans added 12 points while Nick Debnam pulled down nine boards.

Queens travels to Anderson University on Jan. 14 and the Saints host Erskine College that same night.