CHARLOTTE, N.C.- For the second game in a row the Royals came out strong, took the lead and never looked back, until the end of the game. The Royals (2-0) led the entire contest until, turned the lead over, but regained it to defeat Lenoir-Ryhne (1-2)  91-84 in the last game of the 2009 Tip-Off Classic, a two-day event that featured two South Atlantic Conference teams and two Conference Carolinas teams.

In the season-opener the night before Queens led the entire game then let Wingate take the lead with three second left, but sank a game-winner at the buzzer. Luckily for the Royals, they gave themselves a little more time to take the lead back and add in a little more breathing room.

After losing the lead by two points with 2:37 to go the Royals sank three three-pointers in a row. Junior Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) hit the first and third and freshman Brandon Nichols (Fayetteville, N.C., Jack Britt) had the second. Nicholas made the winning shot in the season-opening game.

Lenoir-Rhyne had two three's of their own to keep the game close, but key free throws by Queens down the stretch kept the brass ring just out of reach for the visiting Bears.

On the night Queens was 80% from the charity stripe, hitting 33 of 41. Hopkins was 11 of 12 from the line helping him lead all scorers with 27 points.

Nicholas chipped in 17 and seven rebounds while Andre Lockhart (St. James, Barbados, Coleridge and Pany)had a 16 point night.

Lenior-Rhyne's Marcus Hodges scored 21 for the visiting team and was a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line. D.J. Blackmon contributed 18.

Queens hosts Limestone on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 7:30pm. The game will be the first in league action.