CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's wrestling team jumped out to its largest lead of the 2018-19 season, leading Belmont Abbey by 15 points through four weight classes, but the Crusaders battled back and closed with four pins in the final five matches to edge the Royals, 30-21, from Curry Arena in Charlotte on Tuesday night.
 
Queens moves to 0-15 with three dual meets remaining during its inaugural season in the NCAA Division II ranks, while Belmont Abbey improves to 6-4 and 2-2 in South Atlantic Conference Carolinas competition after starting 0-2 in the conference. 
 
Benjie Hund led the way for the Royals, notching his second win in three matches thanks to a controlling 7-2 decision victory over the Crusaders' Colton Brittain in the 197-pound weight class. Hund's victory closed the gap to only three points, 24-21, with one match remaining. 
 
The Royals quickly jumped out to a 18-3 lead through four weight classes aided in part because of three forfeits from the Crusaders. That allowed Queens' Melvin Rubio (125), Noah Gilbert (133) and Jude Lloyd (149) to all record wins, as well as six points apiece to the overall score. 
 
Devinaire Hayes and Micah Marcin narrowly missed out on joining their teammates in the win column, as both Royals fell in their matchups via single-point decisions. Belmont Abbey's Troy Gregor, the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the region for the 141-pound weight class, just squeaked by Hayes in a match that ended 4-3. Marcin then suffered a similar fate at 157 pounds, as the Crusaders' Grant Finkbeiner took the close win, 3-2, over the lone competing upperclassman for the Royals. 
 
With the final month of the regular season approaching, Queens will complete its regular season with three of its final four meets against South Atlantic Conference Carolinas opponents, with the lone exception being the Newberry Open on Saturday, Feb. 9. 
 
Next up, the Royals will head to Hartsville, S.C. for a showdown with the Cobras of Coker College. The meet is slated for a 3:00 p.m. start time on Sunday, Feb. 3.