Postgame Interview with Grant Leonard

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – No. 2 Queens University of Charlotte moved to 14-0 this evening with a 74-58 win over South Atlantic Conference rival Wingate University. The Royals now sit undefeated at 6-0 in league play while the Bulldogs drop to 7-7 on the season and 4-2 in the SAC.
 
Queens was led by Jalin Alexander who totaled 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Mike Davis added 12 points, nine rebounds, and three steals while Ike Agusi totaled 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Todd Withers chipped in with 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
After trading buckets in the opening minutes with the Bulldogs, Queens would open things up with a 7-0 run to lead 17-10 with 6:53 on the clock. A layup from Davis would later put Queens ahead 23-14, but the Bulldogs would pull back within five, 25-20, shortly after. A three-pointer from Alexander helped the Royals create some space before the break as they headed into the locker room with a 30-21 advantage. Queens finished the half shooting 45.8-percent from the floor while holding Wingate to just at a 31.8-percent clip.
 
Queens' lead would swell to 22 points, 63-41, with 7:36 to play in the second half following back-to-back steals and fast-break lay-ins from Shaun Willett and Darryl White. However, 10 unanswered points from the Bulldogs would cut the home team's lead to 12 with just under five minutes of action left in the game. A layup from Alexander at 4:44 ended Queens' nearly three-minute scoring drought and they would go on to score the final five points of the game to take the 16-point victory.
 
Queens finished tonight's game shooting 50-percent from the floor after shooting 53.3-percent in the second half. They entered the game ranked 15^th in the nation in field goal percentage (50.5%). Additionally, the 58 points scored by Wingate is the second-lowest point total of any of the Royals' opponents this season.
 
Kerigan Farley led the Bulldogs with 14 points while Marco Haskins, Devarious Christian, and Zeriq Lolar totaled 10 points each.
 
The Royals will continue conference play on the road at Mars Hill University on Saturday, January 6. The Royals swept the Lions last season winning 85-57 at home and 119-78 on the road. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Click below for the postgame thoughts of Royals Associate Head Coach Grant Leonard.