Box Score WINGATE, N.C. - The 9th ranked Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (14-2, 8-2 SAC) had their comeback attempt run out of time as they fell to host Wingate University (13-4, 9-2 SAC) 71-70 on Wednesday, January 20, 2016.

Queens shot 40 percent in the game, as they were 22-of-55 from the field. The Royals were able to force the Bulldogs into 21 turnovers, which led to 22 points in the game for Queens. Wingate was able to make 11-of-22 three pointers on the night, four more than Queens made in the game. Both teams struggled from the free throw line as Wingate only made 45.5 percent of theirs and Queens only connected on 65.5 percent of their opportunities.

Rob Lewis was the Royals leading scorer on the night as he added 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the field to go along with five rebounds. Daniel Camps scored 12 points for the Royals, eight of which came from the free throw line. Marquis Rankin also had a solid game as he scored nine points, grabbed four rebounds, and passed out four assists.

Wingate got off to a great start in the game as they jumped out to a 28-10 lead on the Royals in the first nine minutes of the game. The Bulldogs made six three pointers during the start, three of which came courtesy of Anthanee Doyle. Queens responded by holding Wingate without a field goal for the next seven minutes and going on a 15-2 run that was sparked by four points each from Daniel Camps and Sean Morgan. The Bulldogs were finally able to end their field goal drought as Keith Griffin's jumper made the score 32-25 in favor of Wingate with 4:38 to go in the first half. Queens' Kendall Jones ended the first half with a three pointer from the wing that banked in as time expired to make the score 41-34 at halftime.

Both teams were a little cold to start the second half as Lewis' layup cut the Wingate lead down to five points, 47-42, with 15:52 to go in the game. The Bulldogs quickly responded by going on a 6-0 run to increase their lead to double digits, 53-42. Minutes later, Queens drained three shots from deep range, the last coming from Rankin, to cut the Wingate lead down to 65-59 with 6:30 remaining in the game. The Royals continued to battle to cut into the lead as they would eventually cut the lead down to four, 71-67 with two minutes remaining in the game. Morgan stole the ball and handed it off to Lewis who took it to the other end of the court and laid it in with 1:12 remaining in the game to make the score 71-69. After an empty possession by the Bulldogs, Todd Withers would be fouled, but missed both of his free throws. On the next play, Wingate would also be fouled, but they missed their 1-in-1 opportunity and the Royals would grab the rebound and let Rankin take it down court where he was fouled on his shot attempt with 15 seconds left in the game. Rankin missed the first, but made the second free throw to cut the lead down to one point, 71-70. On the inbounds pass, Wingate would catch it but travel, giving the Royals the ball with 10 seconds left and a chance to take their first lead of the game. The Royals inbounds pass would go to Lewis who was making his way to the basket for the final shot, but would slip and fall to the court, while being called for a traveling violation with :02 left on the clock. Wingate would have their inbounds pass deflected, which ran out the clock and gave Wingate a 71-70 win over the Royals.

Wingate was led by Mike Baez, who scored 16 points and added six rebounds in the game. Anthanee Doyle added 14 points for the Bulldogs, 12 of which came from made three pointers. Keith Griffin only scored four points in the game, but grabbed a game high 13 rebounds and blocked three shots for Wingate.

The Royals will return home on Saturday, January 23, as they put their 6-and-0 home record on the line against the Anderson University Trojans at 4:00 p.m.