CHARLOTTE, N.C  –  In a matchup of regionally-ranked teams, the No. 20/21 Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (8-3, 3-2 SAC) fell to Tusculum University (9-4, 4-1 SAC), 67-61, on Saturday at the Levine Center. Van Turner Jr. led the Royals with 14 points, as Kenny Dye and Jachai Taylor each followed with 12.

Queens led the entire first half, opening up a 14-4 lead in the game's first eight minutes. The Royals continued their first-half onslaught, which featured 13 forced turnovers and three made 3-pointers by Turner, to take a 12-point edge, 28-16. However, Tusculum finished the first half on a 9-0 run to trim the deficit to three, 28-25, at halftime.
 
Tusculum tacked on four more after the break seizing their first lead, 30-28, in the first two minutes of the second half. The Pioneers never trailed thereafter and opened up their largest lead, 54-46, with seven minutes remaining.
 
After Josh Brodowicz drained a 3-pointer with 3:05 to play, cutting into Tusculum's lead, 60-58, Queens' last-minute efforts fell short. Immediately after, Tariq Jenkins completed a three-point play, stretching Tusculum's lead to five, 63-58, with 2:32 left. The Pioneers led by at least three points the rest of the way.
 
Tusculum outrebounded Queens, 44-24, and limited the Royals to less than 36-percent shooting. The Pioneers shot 48 percent from the floor, 43.8 percent from the 3-point line, and 80 percent at the free-throw line to overcome a -9 turnover margin.
 
Jenkins led Tusculum with 20 points. Trenton Gibson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Royals return to action after the Holiday break on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the University of Virginia College at Wise. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Live play-by-play coverage will be available on the Queens Sports Network.