HARTSVILLE, S.C. – A two-handed tip-in layup by Gavin Rains as time expired lifted the No. 20/21 Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (8-2, 3-1 SAC) to a 70-68 road win over Coker University (2-7, 1-4 SAC) on Wednesday evening at the DeLoach Center. Rains finished with nine points and 10 rebounds, Van Turner Jr. scored 15, and Jay'Den Turner scored eight points with nine boards. Jamari Smith led the Royals with 17 points in his first game back from injury.

In the first half, Queens jumped out to an 18-point lead, 30-12, after Kenny Dye drilled a 3-pointer with 7:52 to play. However, Coker responded with a 13-2 run, capped by a Jaylin Stewart layup with 3:57 remaining in the frame, to cut the Queens lead to seven, 32-25. The Royals led 39-27 at halftime.

In the second, Coker cut the deficit to two scores, 52-46, with 10:44 remaining after a Royce Hunter jumper. Moments later, the Cobras pulled closer when a steal by Chandler Lindsey set up Stewart for a fast-break lay-in, cutting the Royals lead to 54-50.

After Queens captured a double-digit led twice more, Williams Onyeodi's layup with 3:27 left pulled Coker within one score for the first time since the 17:07 mark of the first half, 66-64. With 1:36 to play, the Cobras tied the score for the only time after a Dakota Jennings layup.

The Royals survived two second-chance put-back efforts by Jennings and earned possession with less than six seconds remaining after Rains forced Jennings into a tie-up. Off the inbounds pass from underneath the Royals' own basket, Jermaine Patterson raced into the frontcourt and launched a 3-pointer from the top of the arc that Rains rebounded and scored to pull out the victory.

Despite the late comeback effort and playing without leading scorer Daniel Carr, Queens never trailed and led for more than 37 minutes. The Royals shot 47.5 percent from the field, 25 percent from the 3-point line and 50 percent at the free-throw line.

The Cobras pulled back into the game by shooting 58 percent in the second half. Stewart led Coker with 12 points. Jennings and Lindsey each scored 11 and Hunter scored 10.

The Royals return to action on Saturday, Dec. 21, versus Tusculum University at home. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Live play-by-play coverage will be available on the Queens Sports Network.