RALEIGH, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team opened their season with an exhibition game this evening at NC State University, falling 78-47 to the Wolfpack at PNC Arena. Tonight's game marked the second time in program history that the Royals have opened the season against Atlantic Coast Conference competition.
The Royals were able to hold the Wolfpack to just 28.6-percent shooting in the opening half of the game, while shooting 55-percent from the floor. Queens'
Marquis Rankin would score a three-pointer to get things started, giving the Royals a narrow lead that they would hold on to until 14:46 when NC State's Caleb Martin scored a layup to give the home team a 5-4 advantage.
Queens would regain the lead on back-to-back buckets from
Ben Richter and
Jordan Robinson before the Wolfpack regained control on a pair of free-throws from Abdul-Malik Abu. The Wolfpack then went up by as much as nine points before Queens was able to put together a 12-2 run and take a 28-27 lead at just under the two minute mark. Turnovers converted into fastbreak points would allow the Wolfpack to go into the locker room ahead, edging the Royals 30-28.
NC State opened the second half with a 20-0 run, leading Queens 50-28 before
Jared Hendryx scored a layup at the 12:23 mark.
Trey Ervin followed the big man's basket with one of his own, but the Royals continued to have a hard time finding open looks among NC State's towers in the paint. The Wolfpack would stretch their lead out to as much as 35 points before the end of regulation.
Queens would shoot just 24.1-percent from the floor in the second half as the Wolfpack improved their shooting percentage to 48.6-percent. NC State edged the Royals under the glass, grabbing 39 rebounds to Queens' 37.
Turnovers proved to be costly for Queens' play this evening, as the Wolfpack scored 39 points off of the Royals' 30 mishaps.
Junior guard
Rob Lewis led the Royals tonight scoring 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
Nkosi Ali added eight points on 2-of-5 shooting.
Martin led the Wolfpack with 16 points, while Abu scored 14 and Kyle Washington added 10 points.
The Royals are back in action on November 11 at home in their final exhibition of the season against Methodist University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
