Royals pick up 80-65 win over Anderson in national television debut

Saturday, January 24

Charlotte, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Queens University of Charlotte

Anderson University (SC)

Team	1	2	F
Anderson (S.C.)	33	32	65
Queens (N.C.)	40	40	80

1/24/2015 5:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte played host to Anderson University this afternoon on CBS Sports Network as the NCAA Division II Game of the Week. The Royals defeated the Trojans 80-65 to improve to 8-4 in the South Atlantic Conference and 11-7 on the year. The Trojans fall to 4-8 in SAC play and 8-10 on the season.

Junior forward Sean Morgan led the Royals picking up his fifth double-double of the year with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Kendall Jones recorded a season-high 10 points, five assists and three steals. Rob Lewis added nine point, and Jedarian Jackson scored eight points.

Following a tightly contested first half that saw seven ties and seven lead changes, the Royals headed into the break ahead 40-33 thanks to a 10-3 spurt at the close of the period.

The Royals quickly extended their lead to 13, 47-34, just two minutes into the second half forcing a timeout from the Trojans. Following the short pause, Anderson cut into the Royals' lead when a three-pointer from Nick Johnson and three more points scored the old-fashioned way by Myson Jones gave the game a 49-40 score with 16:37 to play. Back-to-back long balls from Queens' Jones and Trey Ervin followed quickly stretching the home team's lead out to 15, and a free-throw from Jared Hendryx at 14:09 gave the Royals their largest lead of the day, 56-40.

An 11-3 run by Anderson brought the visiting Trojans to within seven, 58-51, of the Royals with 10:23 to play, but once again Queens had an answer. This time it was a 7-0 push capped by a three-pointer from Ben Richter that took the Royals into the under eight media timeout leading 65-51. Queens maintained their double digit lead until another three from Jones of Anderson allowed the Trojans to pull within eight with 1:33 to play. However, the Royals stayed poised knocking down 3-of-4 free-throw attempts in the final minute to solidify their win.

The Royals shot 46.5 percent from the floor today after posting a 52.63 clip in the second. The home team also outscored the Trojans 44-20 in the paint, and edged Anderson under the glass, 30-27. Queens was also able to capitalize on Anderson's 24 turnovers converting them in 31 points.

Matt McClain and Jackson each scored 15 points to lead Anderson, while Jones finished with 11 points on the day.

The Royals are on the road at Newberry College on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Last season Queens dropped both games in the home-and-home series to the Wolves.