Radio: Queens Sports Network (ESPN Charlotte 97.5 FM & 730 AM)
Phil Constantino (pxp)

Live Video: Cobra Sports Network

Live Stats: CokerCobras.com
 

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The No. 20/21 Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (7-2, 2-1 SAC) returns from a 10-break on Wednesday evening and travels to Coker University (2-6, 1-3 SAC) for a South Atlantic Conference matchup. Opening tipoff from the DeLoach Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Royals and the Cobras will meet for the 51st time, with Queens holding a 42-8 all-time edge. Queens has won nine-straight in the series, defeating Coker, 89-67, in the most recent encounter on Feb. 6, 2019. Coker's last win in the series came back on Nov. 25, 2014, when the Cobras edged the Royals, 72-68. Since Queens joined the SAC prior to the 2013-2014 season, the Royals lead the series, 11-1.
 

Quick Facts
No. 20/21 Queens Royals (7-2, 2-1 SAC)
(Game Notes)

-On Saturday, Dec. 7, Led by 13 rebounds from Gavin Rains, 12 points from Jermaine Patterson, and 11 points apiece from Daniel Carr and Jachai Taylor, the Royals' second-half comeback effort came up short, as No. 11/12 Queens fell to No. 7/8 Lincoln Memorial University, 73-64, at Tex Turner Arena in Harrogate, Tennessee. Queens failed to complete the comeback despite outrebounding Lincoln Memorial, 39-34, and winning the turnover battle, 21-17. In the second half, the Royals outscored the Railsplitters, 43-34, and shot 44.4 percent from the field.

-So far this season, Queens has collected notable wins over the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (No. T-5) and Lees-McRae College (No. T-5), two regionally-ranked teams. The Royals have also beaten Emmanuel College and Lenoir-Rhyne University, two 2019 NCAA Tournament participants. Queens' only losses came at the hands of the two teams currently ranked atop the regional rankings, No. 1 Lincoln Memorial and No. 2 Belmont Abbey College.

-On Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Royals held at No. 20 in the NABC / Division II Rankings, and the placement in the fifth official poll of the 2019-2020 season marked the 65th consecutive week in which Queens has been featured in the national coaches' poll. The streak dates back to the first poll of the 2015-2016 season on Nov. 24, 2015.

-The Royals also slipped to No. 21 in the D2SIDA Media poll. Queens has cracked the top-10 nationally in both polls during each of the last five seasons.

-The two-time reigning regional champions slipped one spot to No. 3 in the Southeast Region Poll, D2SIDA announced on Monday, Dec. 16. The Royals earned 50 points, placing only behind conference rival Lincoln Memorial (9-1) who received all six first-place votes and earned 60 points, and Belmont Abbey (8-3) who earned 52 points. The Royals were ranked No. 1 in the region in the preseason.

-The loss to Lincoln Memorial on Dec. 7 snapped a 15-game road winning streak for Queens which was the longest active road winning streak in all levels of NCAA basketball. Queens previously last lost a road game on Feb. 24, 2018, at then-No. 1-ranked Lincoln Memorial, 80-65. The Royals finished last season 12-0 in road games and opened 2019-2020 with a 2-0 road record before losing. The streak lasted 651 days.

 -Over the previous 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).
 

Coker Cobras (2-6, 1-3 SAC)

-Coker is 2-6 overall and 1-3 in SAC play, most recently losing at Carson-Newman University, 100-70, this past Saturday. The Cobras enter Wednesday's game on a four-game losing streak, last winning on Nov. 26 at Wingate University, 49-45.

-Coker was picked to finish 12th out of 12 teams in the SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing last season 3-24 (1-19 SAC).

-The Cobras are led by junior guard Royce Hunter who averages a team-high 16.5 points per game. Dakota Jennings, Chandler Lindsey and Noel Pinnock all lead the team in rebounding, averaging 4.4 rebounds per game.

-Offensively, Coker is last in the League in scoring offense (64.6 PPG), field goal percentage (40.6%), and 3-point field goal percentage (25.6%). However, defensively the Cobras rank fifth in points per game allowed (76.5 PPG) and fourth in blocked shots per game (3.6 BPG).

-Head Coach Jarred Merrill is in his first season with Coker, after most recently serving as an assistant coach at Division I Mercer University for four seasons. Merrill suffered a medical emergency prior to his team's exhibition game at the College of Charleston on Sunday, Dec. 8, and has not coached since during his rehabilitation efforts.