Box Score
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team welcomed the Methodist University Monarchs to Curry Arena this evening in their final exhibition game of the preseason. The Royals defeated the Monarchs 76-73 to complete their preseason at 1-1.
 
Tonight's game opened with five ties and seven lead changes before a three-point basket from junior guard Rob Lewis put the Royals ahead, 17-14, for good in the half with 11:34 on the clock. A layup by the Monarchs' Jackson Whitley would cut the lead down to one before the Royals were able to extend their lead out to five, the largest of the half. Methodist would pull within one of the Royals twice more, but a lay-in from Jared Hendryx and a made free-throw by Lewis would allow Queens to head into the locker room with a four-point lead at the break.
 
The Royals shot 50-percent in the half, but struggled from the three only knocking down 1-of-6 attempts. The Monarchs were held to just 36.4-percent shooting, but they would connect on 3-of-7 three-point attempts to stay in the game. Methodist also shot 7-of 10 from the foul line.
 
With the second half mimicking the first, Queens wouldn't find its opportunity to break away from the Monarchs until the 6:47 mark when a layup by Hendryx returned the lead to the home team. His bucket sparked a 9-0 run for the Royals, giving them a 63-54 lead with 4:04 to play. Three-pointers allowed the visiting Monarchs to close in on the Royals' lead in the final minutes of action, but time was on Queens' side as they edged Methodist for the win.
 
Queens dominated play in the paint, outscoring the Monarchs 42-22 in the lane. The home team also out-rebounded the visitors, 38-34. However, the Royals would struggle from behind the arc, shooting just 8.3-percent from the three.
 
Junior forward Sean Morgan led Queens with 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor and 7-of-8 shooting from the charity stripe. Lewis finished play just one rebound shy of a double-double, totaling 18 points and nine rebounds.
 
Tabias Hilliard led Methodist with 17 points, while Desmond Parker added 16 points and Mike Major chipped in with 11 points.
 
The Royals open their regular season on Friday in the Lander Classic. They will travel to Greenwood, S.C., to face Georgia College & State University at 5:30 p.m.