CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Daniel Carr scored 28 points as the No. 23/T-25 Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (23-6, 17-5 SAC) overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat Lenoir-Rhyne University (14-14, 10-12 SAC), 106-96, in the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference Championship on Wednesday night at the Levine Center. Kenny Dye followed with 22 points, Van Turner Jr. scored 20 and Jamari Smith scored 14 with nine rebounds as the Royals extended their season-best winning streak to nine games.

Sparked by RJ Gunn's 3-for-3 start from the 3-point line, and a perfect 5-for-5 start from deep by the team, Lenoir-Rhyne took a 31-14 lead with 9:35 to go in the first half. However, Queens answered with an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to two scores, 35-29, on tip-in layup by Smith with 6:06 to play in the opening frame.

The Royals continued their run and briefly took a one-point lead, 49-48, after a pair of made free throws by Carr with three seconds to go. Carr scored 19 first-half points.

On the ensuing possession, as time expired in the first half, Darius Simmons banked in a half-court heave to pull the Bears back in front, 51-49, at the break.

In the second half, Queens first captured the lead, 58-56, after Smith hit a 3 from the top of the key with 16:43 to play. The Royals led the rest of the way, stretching the lead to as many as 14 points, 93-79, on a 3-pointer by Turner with 3:16 remaining.

Queens shot 48.5 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent at the 3-point line (8-22), and 74.4 percent at the free-throw line (32-43). The Royals outrebounded the Bears, 46-36, and only committed seven turnovers.

Lenoir-Rhyne shot 42.9 percent from the floor, 36.8 percent from the 3-point line (14-38) and 87.5 percent at the free-throw line (28-32).

Gunn led Lenoir-Rhyne with 21 points and 11 rebounds as Simmons also netted 21 points. Mason Hawks followed with 20 points and Tyson McClain scored 12 and Cooper Fowler scored 10 with seven rebounds.

The second-seeded Royals return to action on Saturday, Mar. 7, versus third-seeded Catawba College (20-9, 14-8 SAC), at Timmons Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Live play-by-play coverage will be available on the Queens Sports Network.