Live Audio: Queens Sports Network
Phil Constantino (pxp)

Live Video: Young Harris Athletics on YouTube

Live Stats: YHCAthletics.com
 
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The No. 7/8 Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team opens the 2019-2020 season on Friday night at Young Harris College. Opening tipoff from YHC Basketball Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Friday marks the second all-time meeting between Queens and Young Harris. Last season, the Royals took the first-ever encounter, 85-69, on Nov. 10, 2018 in a neutral site contest in Hickory, North Carolina.
 
Quick Facts
No. 7/8 Queens Royals
(Game Notes)

-Queens enters the 2019-2020 season ranked No. 7 nationally in the D2SIDA Preseason Rankings (media poll) and No. 8 in the NABC/Division II Preseason Rankings (coaches' poll). The preseason top-10 placement marks the fifth consecutive year in which the Royals have reached the top 10 in both national polls.

-The two-time reigning regional champions were ranked No. 1 in the Southeast Region's Preseason Poll, compiled by the D2SIDA. The Royals received five of six first-place votes and 58 points, placing just ahead of reigning regional runner-up, Augusta University, in second.

-Queens, the reigning South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Champion, was picked atop the SAC's Preseason Poll, as voted on by the League's coaches. The Royals received eight of 12 first-place votes and 117 points to edge Lincoln Memorial University, who was picked second, and Catawba College, who was picked third.

-Two Royals received preseason all-conference honors in advance of the 2019-2020 season. Senior guard Daniel Carr, who was named a first-team all-conference selection last year, was named to the League's first team, and redshirt-senior guard Van Turner Jr., who earned an honorable mention all-conference nod last year, was named a preseason second-team all-conference selection.

-Carr was named a Preseason Honorable Mention All-American by Street & Smith's Basketball Magazine. Last season, Carr was named a second-team all-region selection by two outlets (NABC & D2CCA) and to the Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watch List.

-Over the past three seasons, the Royals have won 93 games, the fourth most of any program at all NCAA levels during that span (Gonzaga 103, Northwest Missouri State 100, Villanova 94).

-The Royals have won 30 games or more in each of the last three seasons and are one of just two programs in all levels of NCAA basketball who have accomplished the feat (Gonzaga).

-Queens concluded the 2018-2019 season at No. 10 in the NABC/Division II Rankings released on Tuesday, Mar. 12. The placement in the final official poll of the season marked the 60th consecutive week in which Queens had been featured in the national rankings dating back to the first poll of the 2015-2016 season on Nov. 24, 2015. The Royals also finished No. 5 in the D2SIDA Media poll, and have cracked the top-10 nationally in both polls during each of the last four seasons. The 2018-2019 season was the third consecutive top-10 finish for Queens in both polls.
 

Young Harris Mountain Lions       
  
-Young Harris finished 2018-2019 with a 13-16 overall record and an 11-11 mark in Peach Belt Conference play. The Mountain Lions placed sixth in the PBC's final standings and ended their season in the conference quarterfinals with a 96-88 loss to Francis Marion University.

-The Mountain Lions were picked sixth out of 12 teams in the PBC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

-YHC returns three of its top four scorers from last year's team. Senior guard Alphonso Willis led the team with 21.8 points per game. Ryle Owens (12.7 PPG) was the team's third-leading scorer and Brian Harper (12.2 PPG) was the team's fourth-leading scorer.

-Head Coach Jeremy Currier is in his second season at Young Harris and his 11^th year overall. Prior to YHC, Currier spent eight years as the head coach at Pfeiffer University where he oversaw the program's transition from NCAA Division II to Division III before departing for Young Harris. He holds an overall record of 126-145 (.465 win pct.).