OPENING TIP
Score: #18 Clemson 109 | Queens 79
Records: Clemson 10-1 | Queens 6-8
Location: Littlejohn Coliseum (Clemson, S.C.)
 
SHORT STORY: The Queens University men's basketball team traveled to Clemson for their first-ever matchup with an AP Top 25 opponent and first against an ACC foe. Despite strong offensive performances from BJ McLaurin and AJ McKee, the Tigers took down the Royals 109-79 on Friday night.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• BJ McLaurin reached double figures for the eighth game this season pouring in 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. The senior tied his career-high dishing out four assists across 28 minutes of work.
• Junior AJ McKee finished the night with 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the field. The Charlotte native added an assist and a steal to his total.
• Sharpshooter Chris Ashby added 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including three deep balls.
• Floor general Deyton Albury poured in 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in his 13^th start as a Royal.
• Logan Threatt made a significant impact off the bench for the Royals dropping 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep. The three made three-pointers matched his career-high set back on December 1^st against Carolina Christian.
• Clemson won the battle on the boards 42-33, however, the Royals won the offensive glass 12-6.
• The Tigers used their size to their advantage dropping 62 points in the paint. Preseason All-Conference forward PJ Hall led the charge with a game-high 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting.

 
NOTABLE MOMENTS

• Clemson controlled the game from the start taking a 24-14 lead into the second media timeout. After consecutive fast-break dunks from the Tigers, the Royals took a timeout down 29-15. Heading into the under-eight media timeout, the Royals went on a stretch where they made five consecutive field goals which were capped off by a Bryce Cash layup and free throw to cut the Tigers' lead to 36-27
• In the final five minutes of the first half, Clemson outscored Queens 27-5 to take a 69-36 lead into halftime. This stretch included an 11-1 run over the final minute of the half as the Tigers took full command of the game
• Despite the tough first half, the Royals outscored the Tigers 43-40 in the second half.

 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• The 69 first-half points from the Tigers were the most by a Royals opponent since January 16, 2010.
• Clemson shot 63 percent from the field and 53 percent from three-point range. The field goal percentage is the highest Queens allowed in the Division I era.
• Five different Royals poured in 10 or more points for the third time this season.

 
NEXT UP
After a week-long hiatus, the Royals return to action next Saturday, December 30th as they face another Top-25 and ACC foe in Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This will be the first-ever matchup between the Royals and Blue Devils and the final non-conference game of the season for Queens before they begin conference play the following week against Kennesaw State. The Queens-Duke matchup will tip-off at 2:00 PM on the CW Network.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow Queens Men's Basketball on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for news and updates throughout the season. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media to stay up to date on all the Royals sports in action.