CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The No. 16/22 Queens University of Charlotte (13-3, 9-3 SAC) men's basketball team is prepared to hit the road for a pivotal conference showdown rematch at Tusculum University (11-4, 11-2 SAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Queens will look to bounce back after their six-game winning streak was snapped on Saturday at No. 10/12 Lincoln Memorial University, 83-74. The Royals are currently third in the South Atlantic Conference sitting a game behind Lincoln Memorial and Tusculum. Following Wednesday night's action, Queens will return to Curry Arena on Saturday where they are 9-1 on the season as they welcome Mars Hill for a conference clash at 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday evening marks the 21^st all-time meeting between Queens and Tusculum, with the Royals owning a 17-3 series lead. Queens and Tusculum first battled on Dec. 2, 2006 when the Royals won the first of nine straight. The Royals have played very well inside Pioneer Arena as they have not lost since Feb. 27, 2016. In their last meeting, Tusculum stormed into Curry Arena and gave the Royals their only loss of the season in Charlotte. Kenny Dye led the Royals with 22 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Queens had their second worst shooting night of the season only hitting 39-percent of their opportunities.

Quick Facts (Game Notes)
Queens University of Charlotte (13-3, 9-3 South Atlantic Conference)

• In the season opener against Young Harris, the Royals set a new program record with 133 points scored as eight Royals finished with double figures.
• Head Coach Bart Lundy picked up his 400^th career victory in the dominant season opener. Lundy is in his 14^th season at Queens and 20^th season overall as a collegiate head coach.
• Queens is a perfect 11-0 this season when leading at the half and 12-0 when dropping at least 80 points. When the Royals shoot better than 45-percent, they are 9-0 this year.
• Following a dominant season last year, Jamari Smith has returned to the Royals lineup and leads the team in scoring with 16.0 points per game while hauling in 5.8 rebounds per game. Smith earned his seventh career double-double in the victory over Lenoir-Rhyne.
• Queens has been efficient distributing the ball this season as six Royals are averaging at least eight points. Veteran guard Kenny Dye facilitates the offense and is top 25 in the nation in assists per game with 5.6 while also adding 14.8 points per game. Dye is coming off a 14 point and 10 assist double-double in the win over Anderson on Jan. 12.
• Crashing the glass continues to be a priority for Bart Lundy's team as they are fifth in the country with 15.00 offensive rebounds per game. Gavin Rains has been physical on the block pulling down 8.0 rebounds per contest, including a league-best 3.6 offensive boards.
• The Royals are No. 13 in the nation in scoring offense averaging 87.0 points per game.
• Queens has been efficient shooting the deep ball as Kenny Dye leads the conference draining 56-percent of his three-point opportunities.
• Queens has displayed their depth as nine Royals are averaging at least 13.0 minutes per game.
• Junior guard Kenny Dye notched his 1,000th career point in the 80-72 victory over Wingate on Dec. 15. Dye became the 19th player in program history to hit the 1K mark.
• The Royals opened the new season with a dominant 133-80 victory over Young Harris. The milestone victory was head coach Bart Lundy's 400th career win and the most points scored in program history.
• Jamari Smith and Kenny Dye were both named to the 2022 Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List, as announced by Small College Basketball on Saturday, Jan. 15. The award is presented to one player who had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball.

 
Tusculum University (11-4, 11-2 SAC)

• Tusculum enters Wednesday night's contest as winners of their last six games. The Pioneers have not lost since Dec. 11 when they fell at Wingate, 92-75. The Pioneers' have defeated Newberry, Lenoir-Rhyne, Wingate, Catawba, Mars Hill, and Coker during this streak. The six schools have a combined 37-53 overall record this season.
• Tusculum is averaging 75.7 points per game on 44-percent shooting from the field and 33-percent from behind the arc. The Pioneers defensive effort has been impressive this season as they are holding opponents to 75.0 points per game on 43-percent shooting. Tusculum's perimeter defense has been key as teams are shooting 31-percent from deep which is third best in the conference. The Pioneers are also physical on the glass hauling in 40.0 rebounds per contest.
• Preseason South Atlantic Conference First-Team selection Trenton Gibson is the spark for this Pioneers' team as the graduate student is averaging 32.7 minutes per game and dropping 20.3 points per contest which ranks second best in the league. Gibson is also adding 6.8 rebounds per game and 4.7 assists.
• Tusculum possesses a deep squad as eight players are averaging at least 15.0 minutes per game. Forwards William Vedder and Inady Legiste are second on the team averaging 10.0 points per game.
• Head Coach J.T. Burton is in his fourth season as the Pioneers head coach. Burton has led the Pioneers to three SAC Tournament appearances as well as an NCAA Regional Semifinalist appearance last season.
• Tusculum was picked to finish third in the SAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll following a 14-6 overall season, and 12-4 mark in SAC play last year.

Be sure to follow the Royals men's basketball program on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on all the latest news and updates surrounding the team. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media @QueensAthletics to follow all of the Royals sports in action.