CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (12-4 overall, 2-1 ASUN) will welcome their first ASUN opponent in the new year when Kennesaw State (10-6 overall, 2-1 ASUN) comes to the Queen City. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00PM EST from Curry Arena and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN Plus.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Royals took down the reigning ASUN Tournament Champions from Bellarmine by a final score of 75-74 inside Freedom Hall. With a foul to give in the final seconds, the Royals wisely fouled Bellarmine forcing the Knights to inbound the ball with less than a second on the clock. The Knights would jack up a three pointer at the buzzer which clanked right. AJ McKee matched his season-high for the second straight game scoring 20 points, including a 5-for-8 mark from behind the arc. Queens won the battle on the glass 37-27, including 15 offensive boards which were converted into 18 second chance points.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday night will be the first meeting between the Royals and the Owls.
 
Game Notes
QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE (12-4 overall; 2-1 ASUN)

• Queens enters Saturday night averaging 80.1 points per game on 45-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 72.4 points per game on 44-percent shooting from the field and 31-percent from behind the arc. The Royals perimeter defense is second best in the ASUN behind Jacksonville.
• Queens is coming off a daunting road stretch playing six of their last seven on the road. In that span, Queens went 5-2.
• The Royals are unbeaten inside Curry Arena this season and hold a 59-8 record in the last five seasons.
• Kenny Dye is the leader of the veteran Royals squad as the senior is averaging a team-high 17.3 points per game while hauling in 4.3 boards and dishing out 4.8 assists per game. The Royals are 107-24 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 6.5 points and 10.5 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 15 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 16 games. McKee is the only player in the league to reach double figures in every game and he is coming off his second consecutive 20-point performance. In the last four games, McKee is averaging 18.5 points per game on 50-percent shooting from the field.
• BJ McLaurin and Kalib Mathews have been weapons for the Royals as the duo are averaging a combined 17.9 points on 49-percent shooting from the field. McLaurin leads the ASUN in three-point field goal percentage at 52.9-percent.
• The Royals are outrebounding opponents this season 651-529. Through 16 games, Queens is first in the ASUN in rebounds per game with 40.7 and second in the league in offensive boards per game with 13.1.

 
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY (10-6 overall; 2-1 ASUN)

• Kennesaw State enters Saturday night 10-6 overall and 2-1 in league play. The Owls are coming off an 89-86 loss at North Florida on Thursday night.
• Despite being undefeated at home, the Owls are 3-5 on the road this season. In the last five seasons, Kennesaw State has struggled on the road holding a 6-41 record.
• Kennesaw State is averaging 73.7 points per game on 44-percent shooting from the field and 38-percent from behind the arc. The Owls shoot the deep ball well sitting fourth in the league.
• The Owls defense is holding opponents to 68.1 points per game on 42-percent from the field.
• KSU is a scrappy defense that swipes 9.0 steals a game which is the second most in the ASUN.
• Chris Youngblood leads the Kennesaw State offense scoring 13.9 points per game. The junior also brings in 4.9 rebounds per game.
• Terrell Burden and Brandon Stroud are dynamic playmakers for the Owls. Burden is scoring 11.3 points per game while dishing out a team-best 3.6 assists per game while Stroud is dropping in 7.9 points and grabbing a team-high 6.6 boards per game.
• Last season, Kennesaw State finished 13-18 overall and 7-9 in league play. The Owls fell to Jacksonville State in the quarterfinal round of the ASUN Tournament.
• Amir Abdur-Rahim enters his 4^th season at the helm of the Kennesaw State program. Under Abdur-Rahim, the Owls are 29-71 overall.

 
Fans and families can purchase their tickets for Saturday night's game by visiting the Queens Athletics website. The game will tipoff at 8:00PM from Curry Arena on ESPN Plus. Media members looking to attend should fill out the credential request form.

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.