OPENING TIP
Score: #16 Duke 106 | Queens 69
Records: #16 Duke (9-3) | Queens (6-9)
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, N.C.)
 
THE SHORT STORY: Facing their second consecutive AP Top 25 opponent, the Queens University of Charlotte Men's Basketball team fell at #16 Duke University on Saturday afternoon.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Deyton Albury and Jaxon Pollard led the Royals offensively in the first half as they combined for 22 of the 33 points while combining to shoot 10-of-13 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range.
• Albury led the Royals with 23 points behind a career-high 11 field goals made. The junior added five rebounds and a steal on the afternoon.
• Freshman guard Bryce Cash put together a solid performance scoring seven points while matching his career-high with six boards, including four on the offensive glass.
• Jaxon Pollard tied his career-high with 10 points on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 mark beyond the arc.
• BJ McLaurin and AJ McKee combined to score 16 points in their 15^th starts. McKee went 6-for-10 from the charity stripe.
• For the Blue Devils, Jared McCain led the way with 24 points and 17 in the first half
• Duke used their size to their advantage tallying 11 blocks, including five from the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, Kyle Filipowski.

 
NOTABLE MOMENTS

• Duke opened the day on a 14-4 run which was capped off by a Caleb Foster three pointer forcing the Royals into the first timeout. The early breather proved worthy as the Royals answered going 4-for-4 from the field cutting the deficit to 23-17.
• Leading 59-44 in the second half, the Blue Devils used a quick 8-0 run in under a minute to grab their largest lead of the game at 67-44 forcing another Queens timeout.
• The Blue Devils' offense exploded in the second half to outscore the Royals 60-36.

 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• After going against two consecutive Top 25 opponents, the Royals allowed 100+ points in consecutive games for the first time since January 2007
• Duke forced the Royals into a season-high 19 turnovers which the Blue Devils converted into 33 points.
• The Royals fall to 0-8 in true road games for the first time in program history.
• Queens entered Saturday afternoon averaging 10.0 made three-pointers per game and were held to a 7-for-22 clip.

 
NEXT UP
This matchup with the Blue Devils concluded non-conference play and the 2023 calendar year for the Royals. Queens is back in action next Saturday, January 6th at 5:00 PM as they travel to Atlanta to face the reigning ASUN champions in Kennesaw State on ESPN+. The Royals faced the Owls three times last season including in the ASUN conference tournament quarterfinals where the Owls eeked past the Royals 67-66.
 
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.