CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball went 16-for-19 from the field in the second half to lead the Royals over Catawba College, 84-77, in their home opener at Ovens Athletic Center Tuesday night.

A muggy night in the Oven got even sweatier for the Royals when Catawba made seven of their first 11 attempts from the field to sprint out to a 13-point lead just 5:17 into the game.

With nine points coming from deep, the Royals would tighten the reins on the perimeter, forcing the Indians to settle for midrange attempts.

Following the adjustment, the Royals would battle back and take their first lead of the game on a Brandon Nichols (Fayetteville, N.C., Jack Britt) jumper at the 5:03 mark.

Catawba answered with a barrage of three pointers – sinking five of them during a 15-5 run that lasted just over two minutes.

Though missing each of their six three-point shots, the Royals were able grind through the first half by outscoring the Indians, 22-14, in the paint and go into the break trailing, 37-44.

Coming out of the break, Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) immediately set the tone for the half, as he scored three of his 16 points on a 22-foot jumper just 11 seconds into the half.

Big men Antonio Stabler (Garner, N.C., Wakefield) and Brent Evans (Beaufort, S.C., Battery Creek) followed his lead, scoring a pair of baskets in the paint during the Royals' seven-point run to tie the game at 44 apiece.

Catawba's Dominick Reid answered with a two-point jumper to give the Indians their final lead of the game at 46-44, before the Royals defense took over.

After allowing the Indians to shoot 47.1 percent on 16-of-34 shooting, including eight-of-16 from deep, in the first half, the Royals held their opponent to just 25.7 percent on 16-34 shooting in the second half.
 
“I'm very proud of how we guarded in the second half, which was a stark contrast to how we defended in the first half,” said Royals head coach Wes Long.

“We looked like maybe we woke up a bit at the half”

The Royals' lead peaked at 12 points on a pair of Evans free throws with 6:25 remaining.

With the game at hand, the Rowdy Royals were treated to an electric alley-oop dunk when Stabler connected with Daniel Bailey (Irmo, S.C., Hammond ) for the throw down in transition.

The Royals would convert their free throws down the stretch and deliver a seven-point victory in front of their home crowd.

Stabler and Evans each finished four-for-four from the field in the second half to help the Royals nearly double the Indians in total points in the paint at 40-24.

Moving the ball with a purpose, the Royals were able to get high-percentage looks in the second half.

“I was extremely pleased with our shot selection in the second half,” said Long.

“We were more patient and made some easy plays and good reads.”

All things considered, Long was proud of the effort put forth by his team.

“It was a tough game to coach, so I'm sure it was a tough one to play. It was hot and humid, so I was just proud our young men overcame adverse conditions, as well as a poor start.”

The Royals have a few days off before traveling to Hartsville, S.C. for their Conference Carolinas opener against Coker College, who was voted seventh in the conference preseason polls, on Saturday, December 4th.