Post Game Press Conference

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  – An emphatic dunk from Todd Withers would seal the deal this evening as second-seeded Queens University of Charlotte defeated seventh-seeded California Baptist University in the NCAA DII Men's Basketball Elite Eight Quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2003. The Royals improve upon their best season ever moving to 32-3 on the year while the Lancers' season comes to a close at 28-6.
 
Withers led six Royals in double-figures tonight with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting. The all-American also shot 50-percent from the three connecting on 4-of-8 from deep and totaled seven rebounds and five assists. Daniel Carr followed with 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, and two steals while Jalin Alexander added 13 points and four rebounds. Shaun Willet added 12 points and Mike Davis and Lewis Diankulu both scored 11 points.
 
As a team, the Royals shot 60-percent from the floor in tonight's game, performing with a 42.9-percent clip from behind the three-point line. Queens also shot 81.5-percent from the foul line connecting on 22-of-27 at the charity stripe. Additionally, the Royals outscored the Lancers in the paint, 56-46, and won the battle under the glass, 29-24.
 
Queens took over the lead for good tonight in the first half using an 11-3 run to overcome a 15-11 deficit and force a timeout by the Lancers at 9:35. Though CBU would tie the game at 24-24 with 7:27 left in the half, the Lancers would not regain control thanks to a dunk and a triple from Withes that extended the Royals' lead back out to five, 29-24, with 6:44 on the clock. The Royals then increased the margin to as much as seven before taking a six-point lead, 43-37, into the locker room.
 
CBU quickly cut Queens' lead to one on a few occasions early in the second half, but the Royals continued to find answers to keep the Lancers at bay.  At 11:01, CBU's Ty Rowell scored a fast-break layup to pull the Lancers within one, 66-65, but the Royals responded with seven unanswered points to grab their largest lead of the night, 73-65, with 9:48 left to play.
 
The Lancers made another push going on a 5-0 run late in the half cutting the margin to two, 82-80, with 5:07 on the clock, but a 7-2 spurt by Queens would put them back ahead by seven, 89-82, by the 3:25 mark. However, CBU did not go away quietly as they were able to pull back within two, 94-92, with just 1:01 left in regulation. Queens then took care of business at the free-throw line connecting on 4-of-4 down the stretch. A steal by Carr then allowed Withers to slam one home just before the buzzer sounded.
 
Jordan Heading led the Lancers with 21 points while Rowell added 20 points. Kalidou Diouf totaled 19 points and both Cory Lange and Dejon Davis chipped in with 10 points. After shooting 38.71-percent in the first half, the Lancers shot 77.78-percent  in the second.
 
Queens will face either third-seeded Northern State or sixth-seeded East Stroudsburg in the semifinals on Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. The Wolves and the Warriors game tipped off at 9:30 p.m. tonight. Thursday night's game will be aired on the CBS Sports Network.