FAIRFAX, VA. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (5-1) is set to battle the George Mason Patriots (2-4) on Saturday afternoon inside EagleBank Arena. The matchup with the Patriots will be the second A-10 team that the Royals have faced this season after falling at La Salle on Nov. 15^th.

LAST TIME OUT
The Royals feasted prior to Thanksgiving Day as Queens took down the University of Lynchburg by a final score of 107-72. Seven different Royals reached double figures as Chris Ashby led the scoring with a career-high 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from behind the arc. Junior Gavin Rains picked up his 17^th career double-double scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday afternoon marks the second overall meeting between the Royals and the Patriots. The two previously squared off in the 2020 Paradise Jam to open the season as the Patriots won 66-65 in Washington, D.C.

Game Notes
QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE (5-1 overall; 0-0 ASUN)

• Queens enters Saturday afternoon averaging 84.0 points per game on 49-percent shooting from the field and 34-percent from behind the arc. In the last two seasons, Queens is 27-0 when they reached the 80-point threshold.
• The Royals defense is allowing 70.0 points per game on 42-percent shooting from the field and 29-percent from behind the arc.
• Senior Kenny Dye is the leader of the veteran Royals squad. Dye is averaging a team-high 17.8 points per game while hauling in 4.2 boards and dishing out 5.5 assists per game. The Royals are 100-21 when Dye is in the starting lineup. Across the ASUN, Dye is second in points per game and assists per game.
• Junior Gavin Rains has been a force on the block for the Royals to open the season. The Trinity, N.C. native is averaging 8.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. The forward leads the ASUN in rebounds per game and sits third in field goal percentage. Rains has been a double-double machine producing 17 double-doubles in his career, and three this season.
• Sophomore AJ McKee has been a consistent producer this season reaching double figures in all six games. McKee is coming off a career-high 16 points against Lynchburg as he sits second on the team in scoring and minutes per game.
• BJ McLaurin has been a weapon off the Royals bench this season averaging 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds across 17.7 minutes per game. The Fayetteville native brought down a career-high 10 rebounds in the win over Morgan State last Sunday.
• Sophomore Kalib Mathews is coming off his first career start against the Hornets. The guard is averaging 25.3 minutes, 8.3 points, and 3.5 rebounds per game. Mathews leads the Royals in blocked shots with six which ranks top 10 in the ASUN.
• Queens returns 72-percent of their scoring offense from a season ago which won 32 games and reached the NCAA Sweet 16.
• The Royals are outrebounding opponents this season 261-184. Through six games, Queens is first in the ASUN in rebounds per game with 42.5 and second in the league in offensive boards per game with 13.4.
• Queens has finished with a winning record for the last 12 seasons dating back to 2009-10.

 
GEORGE MASON PATRIOTS (2-4 overall; 0-0 A-10)

• George Mason enters Saturday afternoon on a three-game losing skid with losses to No. 15 Auburn, Boston College, Belmont, and Buffalo. The Patriots picked up back-to-back victories over Longwood and American at home.
• This season, the Patriots are averaging 66.7 points per game behind a 44-percent shooting mark from the field and 36-percent clip from deep. George Mason is surrendering 69.0 points per game as opponents are shooting 43-percent from the field and 29-percent from deep.
• Victor Bailey Jr. leads the Patriots offense averaging 12.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. The graduate student is shooting 38-percent from behind the arc this season.
• Devon Cooper is a three-point specialist for the Patriots averaging 11.8 points this season. Cooper ranks 26^th nationally in career three pointers made with 228.
• A-10 Preseason All-Conference honoree Josh Oduro returns for the Patriots. This season, the senior has started all six games and averages 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
• George Mason is 2-0 this season inside EagleBank Arena, and 12-4 at home under Kim English.
• The Patriots were picked to finish fifth in the A-10 Preseason Coaches Poll following a 14-16 season last year.
• Kim English leads the Patriots in his 2^nd season and has a career record of 16-20 at George Mason.

 
Fans and families can purchase their tickets for Saturday afternoon's game by visiting the George Mason Athletics website. The game will tipoff at 2:05 from EagleBank Arena and the broadcast will begin at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN Plus.

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.