HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team, ranked No. 8 in the DII Media Poll and No. 10 in the NABC Poll, traveled to face No. 7/15 Lincoln Memorial University this afternoon. The Royals fell 81-79 to the Railsplitters, giving them a South Atlantic Conference record of 17-3 which mirrors LMU's league record. Additionally, Queens who ranks first in the southeast region now sits at 22-3 on the year, while LMU who ranks second in the region is 22-4.
 
After fighting to build a 10-point lead, 68-58, with 8:24 to play in regulation in today's closely matched game, the Royals found themselves leading by just one point, 68-67, following a 9-0 run by the Railsplitters. A pair of free-throws from Todd Withers would increase the Royals' lead to three, but a triple from LMU's Luquon Choice knotted the game at 70-70 with 2:55 to play. Choice then gave the Railsplitters a 71-70 lead at the charity stripe after being fouled on his three-pointer. Four lead changes followed in the final minutes of play before Ike Agusi equalized things at 79-79 with a deep three with just 12 ticks on the clock. Unfortunately, a jumper for LMU's Trevon Shaw with just two seconds left would follow to give the Railsplitters the win.
 
The Royals shot 67.86-percent in the first half of today's game, but struggled a bit in the second shooting 36.67-percent. For the game, they shot 51.7-percent. Jalin Alexander led with 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Agusi added 15 points. Mike Davis totaled 12 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Withers added 11 points. Both Jared Hendryx and Darryl White recorded six rebounds apiece to lead under the glass.
 
Queens led for majority of the first half of play, seeing their largest lead of the day when a jumper from Agusi put them on top by 12 points, 25-13, with 10:18 on the clock. They went on to hold an eight point lead, 42-34, at the break.
 
Chris Perry led the Railsplitters with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Choice and Shaw each finished with 15 points. Cornelius Taylor added 14 points, and Hunter Spaw scored 10 points.
 
Queens will be back on the road on Wednesday, February 22 at Lenoir-Rhyne University. The Royals defeated the Bears in their first meeting, 78-56, on January 11. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.