Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team held off late comeback efforts by Johnson C. Smith University this evening in Brayboy Gymnasium to defeat the Golden Bulls 82-78. The Royals improve to 4-5 on the year after picking up their first non-conference win of the season, while Johnson C. Smith falls to 4-5.

Rob Lewis continued his stellar play this season scoring 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting. The junior guard also dished out six assists. Marquis Rankin totaled 14 points, while Jared Hendryx added 11 points and six rebounds. Jedarian Jackson recorded seven points and seven rebounds.

After winning the tip, Rankin knocked down a three-pointer to give the Royals their first lead of the night. Unfortunately, JCSU's Alandre Davis would answer with back-to-back jumpers to put the home team ahead, 4-3, 2:10 into play. The two teams then went back and forth trading buckets for the next few minutes before the Golden Bulls were able to get consecutive stops on the defensive end, and create some space between themselves and the Royals. They would build their lead out to as much as eight points, but a 9-0 push at the end of the half by Queens would give the visiting Royals a 34-33 lead at the break.

In the second half, the Golden Bulls tied the game at 38-38 with three points the old-fashioned way from Robert Davis, and went on to lead by five, 43-38, after scoring two unanswered baskets. Back-to-back threes from Lewis soon returned control to Queens, but JCSU's Stedmon Lemon responded with a lay-in to give the Golden Bulls a one-point, 45-44, lead once more with 16:21 left in the game.

Senior guard Trey Ervin would be the spark that the Royals needed, connecting on a layup and getting fouled. He knocked down the free-throw to complete the three-point play and Queens went on to score two straight baskets. Stringing together runs over the next eight minutes of action, they would see their largest lead, 68-57, with 7:14 to play.

The Golden Bulls made one final push in the closing minutes to pull within two of Queens, but the Royals' Lewis and Ervin were able to make it a two possession game at the foul line with time running out to solidify the road win.

The Royals shot 55.1 percent from the floor this evening on 27-of-49 shooting as the Golden Bulls connected on 28-of-62 shots.

Alandre Davis led JCSU with 20 points. Raston Brown recorded a double-double with 15 and 11 rebounds. Joshua Linson and Diondre Pratt each scored 11 points.

The Royals are back at home in Curry Arena against College of Faith Thursday at 1 p.m.