GREENVILLE, S.C. - The No. 6/9 Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (27-3, 22-3 SAC) dominated Newberry College (15-13, 14-11 SAC) in an 87-57 victory in the South Atlantic Conference Semifinals. With the win, the Royals advance to the South Atlantic Conference Championship tomorrow against Carson Newman after the Eagles dropped Lincoln Memorial. The Royals remain red-hot, as they have won 14 straight games and will be seeking their fifth conference championship in program history.
 
After the Wolves hit a three on their opening possession, the Royals would respond with three three-pointers of their own, as they took an early 9-3 lead. Holding a slim 12-9 advantage early, the Royals would storm on another 9-0 run to extend their lead to 21-9 with 13:31 to play. At the second media timeout, the Royals led the Wolves 24-13 as they shot a scorching hot 6-for-11 from three in the opening minutes.
 
The Royals impressive start would not stop there, however, as two more made three-pointers by the Royals gave them a 36-17 lead with 3:49 to play in half one. Both the Royals and Wolves would trade baskets the rest of the way, as the Royals took a 44-28 lead into the break. Quan McCluney and Jamari Smith were scorching hot in the first half, as they scored 26 of the Royals 44 first-half points.
 
To start the second half, the Royals and the Wolves remained in a stalemate. Each side would match each other's moves, as the lead for the Royals stayed at around 20 points. Leading 61-42, a 7-0 run by the Royals, capped off by a Josh Dilling three-pointer, gave the Royals a commanding 68-42 lead with 11:29 to play.
 
That run by the Royals proved to be a crucial blow to the Wolves, as the Royals never led by less than 25 the rest of the way. The Wolves would attempt to claw back into the game, before a quick Royals response would re-extend their lead. The Royals would cruise their way to an 87-57 win in the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference Semifinals.
 
Quan McCluney led the Royals in points with 20 on the night. He was on fire from behind the arc, shooting an efficient 5-for-9 from deep. The Conference Player of the Year Jamari Smith added 18 points of his own. First Team All-Conference honoree Kenny Dye was the usual steady floor general for the Royals, totaling 11 points and a team-leading 5 assists. Mike Fowler led the Royals in rebounds, with 8, off the bench. The Royals bench was crucial in victory, as they totaled 28 points.
 
The Royals shot an efficient 51-percent from the field, while their hounding defense held the Wolves to just 31-percent from the field. The Royals dominated the glass, outrebounding the Wolves, 52-30. The Royals were ferocious downlow, as they scored 38 points in the paint, while only allowing 20 points in the paint for the Wolves.
 
Queens will return to action tomorrow in the South Atlantic Conference Championship against Carson Newman University, a rematch of last year's conference tournament title, inside Timmons Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. With a win, the Royals would win the South Atlantic Conference Tournament title for the first time since 2017.
 
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