LAURINBURG, N.C.—St. Andrews Presbyterian College received points from all 11 Knights that entered the game and shot 49.1-percent from the floor en route to an 81-76 Conference Carolinas men's basketball victory over visiting Queens University of Charlotte on Wednesday night in Harris Court.
The Royals (5-7; 2-3) dropped their second game in three days. The Knights (6-7 Overall; 2-4 Conf.) continue to play well at home improving to 6-1 in Harris Court, while extending their home win streak to five consecutive games.
The two teams battled closely in the first half as both squads only mustered up five-point leads for their respective schools throughout the opening 20 minutes. The first half featured seven lead changes and two ties. St. Andrews held a narrow 35-32 advantage at halftime.
The Knights came out of the locker room with the momentum going on a 7-0 run in the first 75 seconds to increase their lead to 10 (42-32). Christian started the outburst with a made three-pointer at the top of the key; Jackson followed with a steal and a breakaway dunk; and sophomore Antonio Moffitt (Raleigh, N.C.) capped the surge with another steal and fast break lay-up.
Queens followed with a 5-0 run of their own, but couldn't quite take the lead over the host school as St. Andrews led throughout the second half. Sophomore wing Daniel Bailey (Irmo, S.C., Hammond )kept the visitors in the close game scoring 26 of his game-high 37 points in the final frame. Bailey had a game-high 16 rebounds to complete his double-double. This was Bailey's fourth 30 plus point game this season as well as his seventh double-double.
Queens– ranked 13th nationally in three-pointers made per game – made 6-of-15 (40.0%) three-pointers in the first half but was held to just 4-of-14 (28.6%) in the second period. The Knights made 7-of-19 (36.8%) from beyond the arc including a trio by Fenderbosch.
The Royals kept fighting and pulled to within one possession a pair of times in the final minute but St. Andrews converted on seven of its last 10 free throws in the final 90 seconds to stay ahead including a pair of freebees by Jackson with 6.1 ticks remaining on the clock.
Queens took 80 total shots compared to 55 by the Knights. Junior Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) tallied 16 points as Bailey and Hopkins accounted for 69.7-percent of the Royals scoring on the night.
Sophomore point guard Aaron Christian (New Bedford, Mass.) led the Knights with 18 points and a game-high eight assists. Junior forward Marvin Jackson (Gloucester, Va.) deposited 15; sophomore shooting guard Kurt Fenderbosch (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) drilled 13; and junior center Zack Garst (Huntersville, N.C.) swished 10 points.
Garst yanked down a team-high 14 rebounds as St. Andrews held a 48-42 rebounding edge. Garst notched his fifth double-double of the season and seventh double-double of his collegiate career. Junior center Marcus Connor (Charlotte, N.C.) added eight boards.
Queens host local conference rival Pfeiffer University on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
