Due West, S.C. – Reggie Hopkins' (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) 18 points led the Royals to a 61-45 victory at Erskine Thursday night, their fifth consecutive win over the Flying Fleet.

With the win, Queens (17-6, 13-2 Conference Carolinas) remains one game ahead of Limestone (18-5, 12-3) -- who defeated Belmont Abbey (12-11, 7-8) 79-67 tonight -- for the conference lead with only three league games remaining.

The Royals dominated the first half, hitting 56.5 percent while holding the Flying Fleet to just 22 points on 25-percent shooting. Hopkins caught fire in the opening half, connecting on his first five shots from the field, including four from deep before missing from three-point land with 26 seconds remaining in the half. Scoring 16 of his game-high 18 points put the Royals up 35-22 going into halftime.

Despite a hot hand by the Fleets' Travis Liner, who scored 15 second-half points on five-of-seven shooting, the Royals would not surrender their double-digit lead.

Protecting the lead were Joshua Twitty (Rutherfordton, N.C., Polk County), David Mason (Decatur, Ga., Chamblee), David Cheek (Graham, N.C., Graham) and Sam Johnson (Leicester, N.C., Asheville Christian) who provided a spark off the bench for Queens tonight, combining to go seven-for-11 from the field for 21 points.

Big men Antonio Stabler (Garner, N.C., Wakefield) and Brent Evans (Beaufort, S.C., Battery Creek) also played with vigor, combining for 16 points on seven-of-10 shooting to go along 11 rebounds and three blocks.

The Royals return to action Saturday night when they host Pfeiffer (10-12, 8-6) in the annual Homecoming game at Ovens Athletic Center. The game is slated for a 7:30 start. Click here for ticket information.