Misenheimer, N.C. -- The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team couldn't keep pace with Conference Carolinas rival Pfeiffer on Monday night, as they fell 82-90 for their second loss to the Falcons this season. The loss brings the Royals (5-7, 8-11) to a tie for the seventh seed, while the Falcons (8-4, 12-6) slide into the third seed.

Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) played a spirited game for the Royals, scoring a game-high 27 points with three rebounds. Hopkins shot over 53% for the game, including 5-for-8 from behind the arc and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. Despite being held in check on the offensive end with 10 points, Daniel Bailey (Irmo, S.C., Hammond ) was able to collect nine rebounds (three offensive), two blocks, and two steals. Freshman Nate Blackburn (Burlington, N.C., Graham) chipped in five rebounds to go along with 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting.

In a sloppy first period, Queens held the advantage at the break, 33-30, knocking down 38% of their shots while the Falcons went cold shooting just 27%. Queens jumped out to an 11-3 start after a Charles Burgess (Spartanburg, S.C., Boiling Springs) jumper at the 14:14 mark of the first period.

The Falcons took their first lead of the night on a lay in by Chris Woods (Thomasville, NC), swinging the margin to +7 in their favor with a free throw by Yuki Yamaguchi (Tokyo, JAPAN) with 8:52 to go in the half. An 8-0 run by the Royals and three lead changes over the next two and a half minutes, Queens would regain the lead by one on a Brandon Nichols (Fayetteville, N.C., Jack Britt) basket in front of  David Cheek (Graham, N.C., Graham) closing out the half with a layup at the buzzer for a 33-30 visitors lead at the break.

 A minute forty into the second, the Falcons had come back to square the contest at 37 with another basket by Woods which was preceded by a James Crowder (High Point, NC) three. A dunk by Woods 90 seconds later gave the hosts a lead for good quickly racing out to a double-digit lead on another Crowder triple with just over a dozen minutes to play.

The Falcons had to fight off a late rally by Queens to secure the victory. A three ball by Hopkins capped off a 12-0 run that saw the Royals pull to within a manageable seven with just under two minutes to play. Five different Falcons connected on 8-of-10 free throws in the final 1:26 to hold on for the eight-point win.
 
The Royals look to make a move in the standings this week, as they visit second-place Barton on Wednesday and welcome fifth-place Belmont Abbey on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. tip.