Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte recorded its first loss of the season falling 72-66 in a tight contest with Winston-Salem State University on day two of the 2011 Final Fire Classic. Queens now sits at 3-1 on the season, while the Rams improve to 3-0.

In the first half, the Royals went down 10-2 early before commanding a 17-13 lead on a 15-to-3 run. Nate Blackburn (Burlington, N.C., Graham) drilled a three from deep to give Queens their first advantage of the game at 13-10 during the run. From that point, there were six lead changes with the final coming in Queens' favor on a three-pointer scored by Daniel Bailey (Irmo, S.C., Hammond ) in the final seconds of the half.

The Royals held a two point lead at the break, 30-28, on 40-percent shooting. The Rams had a 31-percent field goal percentage at the half.

In the second, the Royals stretched their lead out to as much as five points. Two turnovers committed by the Royals allowed the Rams to get back in the game as a lay-up by LaMar Monger put them up by one, 35-34. Bailey knocked down another bucket returning the lead to Queens one last time before the visiting Rams went ahead for the remainder of the game.

The Royals were just a few baskets shy from tying the game up in the final two minutes. A lay-up by  Brent Evans (Beaufort, S.C., Battery Creek) with 24-seconds to play closed the gap to four, but the Rams knocked down two of four shots from the charity stripe to hold off Queens for the win.

Bailey led the Royals this evening with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Evans chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds. Brandon Nichols (Fayetteville, N.C., Jack Britt) and Sean Eads (Greenville, S.C., Eastside) scored eight points apiece. Eads also dished out four assists and snatched three steals. Sam Johnson (Leicester, N.C., Asheville Christian) tied Evans for a game-high nine rebounds.

Monger led his squad with 17 points, while Justin Glover scored 14.

The Royals will travel to Salisbury, N.C., to face Catawba College on Tuesday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m.