CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Again Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball put on a show at Ovens Athletics Center, this time against nonconference Mars Hill College. Despite the strong, intense play the Royals (5-6/2-2 CC) fell to the Lions (7-6/2-1 SAC) 103-93.
The score does not tell the whole story in this game. The majority of the game it would be easy to mistake the contest for more of a track meet than a basketball game with the teams streaking up and down the floor after every rebound and bucket with little rest or slow play before the next offensive attack.
The fast pace in the first half resulted in a three point margin, 49-46, in favor of the visitors. Queens finally met a team that can hit from long range and that helped the Lions in gaining, and holding an edge. During the first half Queens connected on four of 10 attempts while Mars Hill hit seven of 12. Queens' buckets came from Nate Blackburn (Burlington, N.C., Graham) and Daniel Bailey (Irmo, S.C., Hammond ) (two each) and Danny Sanders hit five of six tries to help Mars Hill.
The second half three point magic didn't seem to show up for Queens tonight. The Royals did convert on five out of 17 attempts, but weren't able to slow down the Lions enough to take the lead. Mars Hill took at 16 point lead, the largest of the night, with 3:30 to play, but Queens was able shave that down to 10 before time expired.
The win gives Mars Hill 3-2 edge in the series, winning the last two meetings.
Bailey turned in another 30 plus game, 33 points, 13 total rebounds and two blocked shots, the team high in all three areas. Antonio Stabler (Garner, N.C., Wakefield) was a consistent shooter hitting six of eight field goals and five of eight free throws for 17 points while also pulling down six rebounds before fouling out. Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) added 16 and five rebounds
Sanders added one more three pointer to his night and ended with 31 points. Dallas Johnson led the team with 11 rebounds. As a team the Lions pulled down 50 boards while Queens had 35.
The Royals travel to St. Andrews on Wednesday before returning home to play Pfeiffer on Saturday. Mars Hill travels to Lenoir-Rhyne on Wednesday and hosts Catawba at home on Saturday.
