Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Despite holding an 11-point lead with just 5:04 to play this evening, the Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team fell 73-71 to the Livingstone College Blue Bears bringing their overall record to 1-5 this season. The Blue Bears improved to 5-1 with the come from behind win.
 
Marquis Rankin would score just the second made three-pointer of the night for the Royals with 5:04 to play capping a 9-3 run that would give the Royals their largest lead of the night at 64-53. Unfortunately for the home team, the Blue Bears would chip away at the lead over the next few minutes, cutting Queens' advantage to one, 68-67, with 2:44 on the clock.
 
Rob Lewis responded with a lay-in stretching the Royals' lead out to three, 70-67, but a foul on the opposite end would allow the Blue Bears' Eric Mayo to pull back within one at the charity stripe. The Royals would come up short on their opportunity to score on the offensive end giving Livingstone another chance to take control of the game which they did when another Queens foul sent the Blue Bears' Austin Harris to the line where he knocked down a pair to give the visitors a 71-70 lead.
 
With 23 seconds on the clock, the Blue Bears pressured the Royals in the backcourt and Lewis was fouled tip-toeing the sideline and sent to the stripe. He would only knock down the first tying the game at 71-71, but an unlucky foul committed by the Royals on the defensive end would send Livingstone's Eric DuBose to the line where he connected on both attempts to give his team the win.
 
In the opening half, the Royals managed to take a 34-31 lead at the close despite the game going back and forth with 10 ties and four lead changes. A steal by Nkosi Ali would lead to a game-tying layup by Sean Morgan giving the game a 27-27 score with 3:09 to play. The Royals then went on a 7-0 run, which included two commanding dunks from Ali, to take a 34-27 lead. The Blue Bears answered with two consecutive baskets cutting Queens' lead to three, 34-31, at the break.
 
At the half, Ali led all players on the court with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He would go on to finish the game with 18 points. Morgan led the Royals with 28 points after shooting a perfect 12-of-12 from the floor. Rankin added 12 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds, while Lewis chipped in with 9 points.
 
Queens dominated play in the paint outscoring the Blue Bears 55-24. However, Livingstone would win the battle for second chance points netting 22 to Queens' seven.
 
DuBose led the Blue Bears with 28 points, while Mayo and Ty Newman added 12 points apiece.
 
Queens returns to South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday at Tusculum College. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.