CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (25-3, 21-3 SAC) closed out the regular season defeating crosstown rival Wingate University (21-7, 17-7), 80-63, inside Curry Arena on Saturday evening. With the win, the Royals sweep the regular season series with the Bulldogs, as they clinch their first regular-season South Atlantic Conference title since 2019 when they made the Elite Eight. The Royals head into postseason play red-hot, as they are winners of 12 straight conference games.
 
The Royals defensive intensity helped them jump out to an early 7-0 lead. After a made layup by the Bulldogs, the Royals would go on a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 13-2 with 15:22 to play in the first frame. Both the Bulldogs and the Royals would go back and forth for the next few minutes, as the Royals kept the lead at around 10 points.
 
However, the Bulldogs would begin to claw their way back into the game. The Bulldogs would go on an 14-3 to give them their first lead of the game, 25-24, with 4:23 remaining in the half. The Royals would quickly respond to take the lead, only for the Bulldogs to swarm on the defensive end to go on a 5-0 run to take a 30-26 lead with 2:31 remaining in the half. The Royals would then storm to an 8-0 run, to take a 34-30 lead, before a late three by the Bulldogs trimmed the Royals lead to a slim 34-33 heading into the half.
 
Queens came out strong in the second half, as they jumped out to a 7-2 run to take a 41-35 lead with 17:21 to play in the game. The Royals and the Bulldogs would be locked in a back-and-forth battle, with the Royals maintaining a slim advantage. Leading 48-45, the Royals ramped up the defensive pressure to go on a 6-0 run to take a 54-45 lead with 10:04 to play.
 
Over the rest of the game, the Bulldogs would try to inch their way back in the game. However, the Royals had an answer to every potential Bulldogs run. The Royals pulled away late, as they outscored 12-4, as they defeated the Bulldogs 80-63.
 
Five Royals, Jamari Smith, Kenny Dye, Quan McCluney, AJ McKee and Gavin Rains scored in double figures. Jamari Smith led the Royals in points, with 20 while also pulling down 11 rebounds to secure his 14^th career double-double and ninth this season. Gavin Rains led the Royals with four assists, as he also grabbed five rebounds and added 10 points off the bench. AJ McKee grabbed a season-high nine rebounds while also contributing 10 points. Off the bench, Jay'Den Turner grabbed seven rebounds of his own.
 
The Royals were locked in one defense all night, holding the Bulldogs to just 37% from the field and forced 13 turnovers. The Royals maintain their dominance on the boards, as they outrebounded the Bulldogs 49-36, and 20-14 on the offensive glass. The Royals converted those 20 offensive rebounds into 27 second chance points.
 
Based on the South Atlantic Conference final standings, the Royals earned the No. 2 seed in the upcoming South Atlantic Conference tournament. Queens will welcome No. 7 Catawba College on Wednesday, March 2, at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Queens Sports Network. Be sure to follow the men's basketball program on Twitter and Instagram. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media @QueensAthletics to stay up to date with all of Royals Athletics.
 
The entire South Atlantic Conference tournament schedule can be found below.
 
Wednesday, March 2 (at Highest Seeds)
Game 1: #1 Lincoln Memorial vs. #8 Lenoir-Rhyne, 7:00 p.m.
Game 2: #4 Wingate vs. #5 Carson-Newman, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: #2 Queens vs. #7 Catawba, 7:00 p.m.
Game 4: #3 Tusculum vs. #6 Newberry, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 5 (Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C.)
Game 5: winner game 1 vs. winner game 2, 5:00 p.m.
Game 6: winner game 3 vs. winner game 4, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 (Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C.)
Game 7: winner game 5 vs. winner game 6, 4:00 p.m.