CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Queens men's basketball avenged an earlier loss to Limestone by defeating the Saints in Gaffney, S.C., by a score of 80-69. The win is the third in four games for Queens and improves the Royals to 8-10 overall and 5-6 in Conference Carolinas action. Limestone drops to 10-6 overall and 6-5 in league play.
Queens found themselves trailing by 11 six and a half minutes into the game, but a field goal by Andre Lockhart (St. James, Barbados, Coleridge and Pany) sparked a 16-5 run by Queens to take tie the game at 22all. The teams traded baskets before the Royals would again get hot around the basket and close out the half leading 40-28.
The Royals shooters were hot in the second half, especially when it came to three pointers. For the game Queens was 58.8%, but an incredible 85.7% in the second half. The team converted on six of seven attempts.
Sean Eads (Greenville, S.C., Eastside) hit two back-to-back three pointers to help Queens gain a 15 point advantage just over midway through the second stanza. Queens offense continued to roll and make shots all night.
It wasn't just the offensive side of the game where Queens excelled. On defense the Royals pulled down 18 rebounds, had eight steals and created 18 turnovers. Off of the 18 turnovers, Queens scored 24 points.
The all-around effort gave Queens the conference win.
Queens was led by Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) with 13 points. Hopkins was a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line and missed just four shots all night. Seaford and Joshua Twitty (Rutherfordton, N.C., Polk County) each added 12 points. Seaford was 2-2 from the three point range, hit both free throw attempts and missed two field goal attempts (4-6).
Stewart Clark scored a game-high 16 points for Limestone. Jarrell Douglass and Danny Friend each had 12 points. Friend and Tyron Evans posted 6 rebounds apiece and Friend had 4 assists.
Queens now prepares for their first nationally televised game as they travel to Pfeiffer on Saturday for a noon tip. The game will be carried live on CBS College Sports, Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Carolinas.
