CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Antonio Stabler (Garner, N.C., Wakefield) knocked down a pair for free throws with three seconds left on the clock to compete the Royals' (5-4) 18-point comeback and pick up the 79-77 victory over Fayetteville State University (4-4) at Ovens Athletic Center Thursday night.

After falling behind 22-4 in the first 6:30 of the game, the Royals leaned heavily on their defensive efforts to rally back into the game.

With the defense picking up, the Royals forced the Broncos to labor on the defensive end.

Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) scored nine of his game-high 20 points while Joshua Twitty (Rutherfordton, N.C., Polk County) provided a spark off the bench with eight points in six minutes to bring the Royals within six points at 38-44 going into halftime.

The Royals could not maintain the momentum coming out of the break, however, as the Broncos went on an 18-8 run to take a 16-point lead, 62-46, to begin the second stanza.

Queens, again, went back to work on the defensive end – forcing 11 second half turnovers – as they slowly chipped away at the Fayetteville State lead.

Struggling to finish in the paint, the Royals capitalized at the charity stripe, converting 17-of-21 attempts.

Trailing 64-74, with under six minutes remaining, the Royals held the Broncos to 0-2 shooting while forcing seven turnovers during a 15-3 run to take a 79-77 lead in the finals seconds to earn their fourth straight victory.

The Royals return to action Monday, January 3 when they welcome Erskine College at 7:30 pm on the back end of a double-header.