Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today's South Atlantic Conference battle between No. 11 Lincoln Memorial University (13-1, 9-1(SAC)) and Queens University of Charlotte (7-7, 5-5 (SAC))came down to the wire in the final seconds of play as the Railsplitters were able to escape Curry Arena with a 72-71 win over the Royals.
 
The Royals came out ready to play using their big men down low to build a 12-point lead, 21-9, heading into the 10-minute mark. LMU's offense would find ways to adjust later in the half as they cut Queens' lead to three, 29-26, with a layup from Curtis McMillion at 4:05.
 
Back-to-back buckets from Queens' Brent Evans and Jarrett Stokes would stretch the Royals' lead back out to seven with 2:43 to play, but an 8-2 run from LMU to close the half brought the visiting Railsplitters to within one, 35-34, of Queens.
 
The Railsplitters carried that momentum into the second half quickly taking a 38-37 lead two minutes into the period. A fastbreak lay-in from Queens' Josh Clyburn would put the Royals back on top but only for a short time as LMU's Keenan Peterson scored a lay-up of his own to put the Railsplitters ahead.
 
LMU would increase their lead to as much as nine before the Royals put together their comeback which began with a fastbreak basket from Stokes. The 7-0 run that would bring Queens to within two of LMU was capped with a layup from Nkosi Ali following an authoritative block on the defensive end from Clyburn.
 
The Railsplitters would call a timeout to regroup in response to Queens' run, and a foul from Ali out of the 30 sent Chance Jones to the line where he knocked down a pair to put LMU ahead four.
 
Queens' Stokes answered draining a pull-up jumper from behind the three-point line with a hand in his face to cut the Railsplitters' lead to one, 57-56, with 8:40 to play. However, Curtis Webb would counter with a three of his own to put the visitors back ahead by four with 8:12 to play.
 
LMU would increase their lead to as much as six in the final minutes of action, but the Royals weren't ready to take a loss on their home court. One final push from Queens would force four lead changes in the final three minutes of regulation. Trailing 72-71 with 14 seconds on the clock, the Royals had one final chance to take the win, but the shot would come up short as the Royals fell at home for the first time this season in conference play.
 
Clyburn led the Royals with a double-double after scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Stokes finished with 20 points, while Ali and Evans each netted 10 points. Joby Glymph added seven points and seven assists.
 
LMU was led by Chance Jones who scored 17 points. Webb added 15 points off the bench, while Vincent Bailey and Lorenza Ross each scored 12 points.
 
Queens is at home on Wednesday night against Lenoir-Rhyne University at 8 p.m.