Radio: ESPN Charlotte (97.5 FM & 730 AM)
Phil Constantino (pxp), Walker Mehl (analyst)

Live Video: Queens Sports Network

Live Stats: QueensAthletics.com

 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Wednesday night, the 16^th-ranked Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (11-3, 6-2 SAC) hosts No. 25 Catawba College (11-3, 6-2 SAC) in a matchup of nationally-ranked teams and two teams tied for second place in the South Atlantic Conference standings. Wednesday is also International Night, as the Queens Department of Athletics will recognize its International student-athletes at halftime. Opening tipoff from the Levine Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Queens and Catawba will meet for the 20th time, with Queens holding a 16-4 all-time edge. The Royals have won each of the last 14 meetings, including the most recent encounter on Mar. 17, 2019, when Queens beat Catawba, 96-93, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. However, despite the current one-sided streak, each of the last four meetings have been decided by four points or less.

General admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children ages 13-17, and free for seniors (60 and older) and children 12 and under. Queens students, faculty, and staff will also receive free admission with the presentation of their Queens ID card.
 
Quick Facts
No. 16 Queens Royals (11-3, 6-2 SAC)
(Game Notes)

-Last time out, in a game prolonged by a second-half power outage, No. 24 Queens defeated Carson-Newman University, 84-72, on Saturday at Holt Fieldhouse. Daniel Carr led the Royals with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block. Jermaine Patterson followed with 15 points, Van Turner Jr. scored 14, Jamari Smith scored 13, and Gavin Rains corralled 11 rebounds.

-So far this season, Queens has collected notable wins over the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (No. 8) and Lees-McRae College (No. 6), two regionally-ranked teams. The Royals have also beaten Emmanuel College and Lenoir-Rhyne University, two 2019 NCAA Tournament participants.

-Queens is ranked No. 16 nationally in the latest edition of the D2SIDA Media Poll, released on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The Royals remain ranked in at least one of the two major national polls every week since Nov. 2016, a streak that spans more than three full seasons.

-The two-time reigning regional champions improved one spot to No. 2 in the most recent edition of the Southeast Region Poll, D2SIDA announced on Monday, Jan. 13. Queens earned 53 points, placing just behind conference rival Lincoln Memorial, who received all six first-place votes and earned 60 points. The Royals were ranked No. 1 in the region in the preseason.

-On Tuesday, Dec. 31, the Royals fell out of the NABC / Division II Rankings for the first time this season, ending the program's streak of 65 consecutive weeks in the national coaches' poll. The streak, which began on Nov. 24, 2015, the first poll of the 2015-2016 season, lasted 1,498 days (4 years, 1 month and 7 days).  

-A loss to Lincoln Memorial on Dec. 7, 73-64, 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).
 

Catawba Indians (11-3, 6-2 SAC)

-Last time out, Catawba lost at No. 3/4 Lincoln Memorial University, 110-85, on Saturday, Jan. 11, ending a seven-game winning streak.

-Catawba is currently ranked No. 25 nationally in the D2SIDA Media Poll and No. 3 in the Southeast Region.

-The Indians were picked third in the SAC Preseason Poll after finishing last season with a 25-8 record, claiming the SAC Tournament Championship, and earning an at-large selection into the NCAA Tournament.

-Catawba returns nine letter winners and four starters from last year's championship team.

-Catawba is led by the backcourt duo of Devin Cooper and Marcell Haskett. Cooper, the 2019 SAC Tournament MVP, is the team's leading scorer at 18.0 points per game (No. 7 SAC). Haskett, who earned second-team all-conference honors last season, averages 17.9 points per game (No. 8 SAC).

-Head Coach Rob Perron is in his sixth season at Catawba and his ninth overall. Formerly the head coach at his alma mater St. Andrew's University ('02-'05), Perron holds an overall coaching record of 118-129 (.478 win pct.).