CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Shaun Willett's putback layup with 18 seconds left put the Royals ahead for good as the No. 10/9 Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (24-3, 16-1 SAC) edged Catawba College (19-6, 12-5 SAC), 91-87, on Wednesday night at the Levine Center. Willett led Queens with 22 points and nine rebounds, as the win clinched at least a share of the South Atlantic Conference regular-season title for the second time in the last three years.

Tied 43-43 at halftime, Catawba opened the second half with five-straight points from Marcell Haskett, which began a 19-8 run, that put the Indians ahead, 62-51, with 15:16 to play. In total, the run featured 14 points from Haskett, including three-straight made 3-pointers. Haskett finished with a game-high 27 points on four of seven 3-point shooting.

The Indians later held a 10-point lead, 76-66, with 9:13 remaining after Haskett connected on a jumper in the paint. However, Van Turner Jr. and Willett responded with back-to-back 3's that cut the deficit to four, 76-72, with 8:21 left and sparked the Royals' comeback push.

With 58 seconds to play, Kenny Dye's jumper pulled Queens within two, 87-85. On the next possession with 38 seconds left, Kevion Blaylock rebounded a missed jumper by Catawba's Jameel Taylor and fired an outlet pass down the floor to Jermaine Patterson. Patterson's fast-break layup tied the score, 87-87, with 33 seconds on the clock.

After a timeout, Dye stole an inbound pass from Taylor, and after Willett collected his own missed lay-in, he scored to put Queens in front for the first time in the second half, 89-87, with 18 seconds left.

Catawba held one last chance to tie or take the lead, when with four seconds left, Taylor was called for an offensive foul with Blaylock guarding him. Moments later, two free throws from Daniel Carr sealed the victory.

Carr scored 21 points while Turner added 20 and Dye scored 12. Queens shot 48.4 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from the 3-point line, and 95.5 percent from the free throw line (21-22).

Catawba shot 47.8 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from distance, and 71.4 percent from the free throw line. The Indians outrebounded the Royals 42-31, which included 18 offensive rebounds, but also committed 14 turnovers.

The Royals return to action on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Carson-Newman University. With a win, Queens will claim the outright SAC regular-season title for the first time in program history. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Live play-by-play coverage will be available on the Queens Sports Network.