CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (10-3 overall) is set to begin their first season of ASUN play on Thursday, Dec. 29^th when the Royals welcome Austin Peay State University (6-7 overall) to Curry Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN Plus.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Royals concluded a four-game road stretch with a victory over Fairleigh Dickinson University, 82-73. In the win, five Royals reached double figures as AJ McKee led the scoring with a season-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Kenny Dye, Kalib Mathews, Gavin Rains, and BJ McLaurin all reached double figures in the win. As a team, Queens drained 13 three pointers which was one shy of their season-high. The Royals elevated at the rim blocking seven shots tying their previous season-high at La Salle.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Thursday night will mark the first meeting between the Royals and the Governors. The conference opener will mark the first ASUN game for both squads as Austin Peay previously competed in the Ohio Valley Conference.
 
Game Notes
QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE (10-3 overall; 0-0 ASUN)

• Queens enters Thursday night averaging 80.2 points per game on 46-percent shooting from the field and 34-percent from behind the arc. The Royals rank second in the ASUN in scoring offense and first amongst provisional schools reclassifying to D1.
• On defense, the Royals are allowing 70.8 points per game on 43-percent shooting from the field and 30-percent from behind the arc. The Royals perimeter defense is third best in the ASUN behind Jacksonville and North Florida.
• Three current Royals rank top 10 in career defensive rebounds in program history, including Gavin Rains (6^th), Jay'Den Turner (8^th), and Kenny Dye (9^th).
• Through games on Dec. 25^th, Queens sits 183^rd in the KenPom Rankings and 133^rd in the Net Rankings.
• Kenny Dye is the leader of the veteran Royals squad as the senior is averaging a team-high 17.2 points per game while hauling in 4.2 boards and dishing out 4.7 assists per game. The Royals are 105-23 when Dye is in the starting lineup as he is top three in points per game and assists per game in the ASUN.
• Junior Gavin Rains has been a force on the block for the Royals to open the season. The Trinity, N.C. native is averaging 7.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. The forward leads the ASUN in rebounds per game and is second in field goal percentage. Across the nation in D1, Rains is top 12 in rebounds per game. The forward has been a double-double machine producing 18 double-doubles in his career, and four this season.
• AJ McKee has been a consistent producer this season reaching double figures in all 13 games. McKee is coming off a season-high 20 points at FDU as he drained 8-of-13 attempts from the field.
• BJ McLaurin and Kalib Mathews have been weapons for the Royals as the duo are averaging a combined 18.1 points on 48-percent shooting from the field. McLaurin dropped in a season-high 16 points behind a career-best four three pointers at George Mason while Mathews scored a career-high 16 points against High Point.
• Quan McCluney has found his rhythm recently averaging 8.6 points in the last five games. During that span, the senior has eclipsed double figures in three games as he has made at least two three pointers in each game.
• The Royals are outrebounding opponents this season 539-430. Through 13 games, Queens is first in the ASUN in rebounds per game with 41.5 and second in the league in offensive boards per game with 13.1.

 
AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY (6-7 overall; 0-0 ASUN)

• Austin Peay enters Thursday night 6-7 overall and looking to snap a two-game losing skid. The Governors recently fell at No. 8 Tennessee by a final score of 86-44.
• Thursday night will be the Governors third game within a four-game road stretch. On the road this season, Austin Peay is 2-5 overall, including neutral site games.
• Austin Peay is averaging 68.5 points per game this season on 41-percent shooting from the field and 32-percent from behind the arc. The Governors sit 12^th in the league in scoring offense.
• On defense, the Governors are allowing opponents to score 69.1 points per game on 47-percent shooting from the field and 31-percent from deep.
• Elijah Hutchins-Everett is a name to watch for the Governors as the sophomore is averaging 13.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. The 6-11 center has reached double figures in the last six games, including a double-double against Murray State. Everett is the only Governor to start all 13 games this season.
• Senior guard Carlos Paez is the offensive facilitator for the Governors. Paez is scoring 7.8 points while dishing out a team-high 3.2 assists which is 12^th best in the ASUN.
• Last season, Austin Peay finished the year 12-17 overall and 8-10 in OVC play. The Governors were eliminated in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament by Tennessee Tech.
• Nate James enters his second season at the helm of the Governors program. Under James, Austin Peay is 18-24 overall. The former Duke Blue Devils standout began his coaching career under legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski and helped the Blue Devils win a pair of national titles.

 
Fans and families can purchase their tickets for Thursday night's game by visiting the Queens Athletics website. The game will tipoff at 6:00PM from Curry Arena Arena 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.