CHARLOTTE, N.C.- It was a battle at the Oven between the hosting Queens Royals and the Flying Fleet of Erskine in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action. In the end Queens prevailed with a score of 52-45 improving to 7-10 overall and 4-6 in league play while Erskine drops to 6-10 and 3-7.

The win is the second consecutive home win for Queens and the second win in three games.

The first half was as close as a game could get, with the teams going basket for basket the entire time, as well as defensive stop for defensive stop. The half featured eight lead changes and two ties with the largest lead being just four points (7-3), held by Erskine. The game was completely deadlocked at 22-20, Queens, for the last three minutes of the half.

Erskine's Brandon Quarles broke the scoring draught with a free throw and Brandon Wright gave the Fleet the lead with a field goal. Queens answered back with a three-point bucket by Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) to tie the game.

The back and forth play continued with the teams trading baskets and the lead until Devon Seaford (Charlotte, N.C., Hope Christian Academy) sank a long range shot to help build Queens to a four point lead, 33-29, with 10:54 to play. The Royals would not turn the lead over again.

With 3:08 to play Queens built a six point lead and Andre Lockhart (St. James, Barbados, Coleridge and Pany) would add six more points for Queens to end the game.

Both teams pulled down eight offensive rebounds and 22 defensive rebounds. David Cheek (Graham, N.C., Graham) led the in rebounding with eight, two offensive and six defensive. Chris Gore posted 10 rebounds for Erskine, also two offensive and eight defensive.

Hopkins scored 15 to lead the Royals. Wright scored the game-high 20 points for Erskine.

Queens travels to Limestone on Jan. 28 followed by a nationally televised game at Pfeiffer on Jan. 30.