CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team returns to Curry Arena on Wednesday night as they are looking to snap their three-game conference losing skid against Central Arkansas. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus. 

  

Date: January 24th, 2024 

Time: 7:00 PM 

Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.) 

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Wednesday night will be the second all-time meeting between the Royals and the Bears. The programs faced off one time last year with the Bears winning a shootout 92-91 victory inside Curry Arena. The Bears shot a season-high 15-for-31 from three-point range in their victory over the Royals.  

  

SCOUTING THE ROYALS (7-13 overall, 1-4 ASUN) 

• The Royals are coming off a tough 91-75 loss to North Florida on Saturday afternoon. The Ospreys were incredibly efficient shooting 53 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range. 
• The Royals enter the game looking to continue to defend their home court. The Royals are 6-2 inside Curry Arena this season. 
• Queens is knocking down 9.2 three-pointers per game which is fifth best in the league. The Royals offense is centered around the three-point shot as they have attempted the second most in the league, and are top-25 nationally in three-point field goal attempts. The Royals are on pace to attempt the third most three pointers in a single season in program history. 
• The Royals offense can run up the score quickly as they are fourth in the conference in scoring with 78.6 points per game. Queens has reached the 80-point threshold six times this season and holds a 4-2 record in those games. The Royals are the highest-scoring team amongst schools making the transition to Division 1. 
• Distributing the ball is key for the Royals as they are 6-2 on the year when dishing out 15+ assists as a team. Queens ranks fifth in the ASUN in assists as Deyton Albury leads the way with 3.9 per game which is good for seventh-best in the league. 

• The Royals have struggled on the defensive end this season as they are giving up the most points on average in the league at 82.7. However, Queens defends the three-point line effectively as they sport the fourth-best perimeter defense in the league, holding their opponents to 32 percent from three-point range. 
• Junior guard Deyton Albury has quickly become a leader for the Royals in his first season in the Queen City. The Royals' leading scorer is tied for third in the league in points per game. The Nassau, Bahamas native is also top-ten in the ASUN in field goal percentage, and assists. Albury has reached double figures in 15 games this season, including eleven straight. Last time out against North Florida, he poured in 26 points, which was one short of his career-high.  
• The Royals' senior leader AJ McKee is the anchor for the Royals offense. On the season, the senior guard is averaging 16.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The Charlotte native is sixth in the league in scoring and second in steals. McKee has reached double figures in 19-of-20 contests this year, and eclipsed 20 points in six games in his senior campaign.  
• Freshman forward Bryce Cash is coming off the best performance of his young Royals career. Against North Florida, the Charlotte native scored a career-high 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field. Cash has started in nineteen of twenty contests in his opening season as a Royal. The freshman forward native is averaging 7.4 points per game, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest.  
• Senior forward BJ McLaurin has started all 20 games down low for the Royals. The forward has reached double figures in 11 games this year. McLaurin ranks 11th in the conference in rebounds per game, at 5.9. 

  

SCOUTING THE BEARS (7-14 overall, 3-2 ASUN) 

• The Bears enter Wednesday night 7-14, and 3-2 in conference play as they are coming off a 94-71 road loss against Austin Peay.  
• Central Arkansas is looking to get on the right track on the road as they have a 3-9 overall record in true road games this year.  
• Freshman forward Tucker Anderson leads the Bears with 14.5 points per game. Anderson is a threat to score from anywhere as his 40 percent from three-point range is third best in the conference.  
• Ugonbasi Etim provides a physical presence down low for the Bears. The sophomore forward is third in the conference in rebounds per game with 8.3, and fourth in the conference in blocks with 1.3 per game.  
• Johannes Kirispuu facilitates the offense averaging 4.6 assists per game on the year which is fourth best in the conference.  
• The Bears struggle shooting from the field as they are last in the conference at 42 percent. However, the visitors are efficient shooing from behind the three-point line bolstering a 35 percent mark which is top five in the league.  
• Wednesday night should see a lot of shot attempts as Central Arkansas will look to control the tempo sitting 128th in the country in pace of play while Queens is 14th according to KenPom.  
• Central Arkansas was picked to finish 12th in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll and 12th in the ASUN Preseason Media Poll. The Bears posted a 9-22 overall record and 9-9 mark in league play last season. 
• Anthony Boone has been the head coach at Central Arkansas since 2020, and been a member of Central Arkansas staff since 2014. After serving as the associate head coach for the Bears for five seasons, he took over as head coach following the 2019-2020 season. Boone holds a 38-84 overall record and 24-46 record in conference play.  

  

The Royals will be back on the road this weekend as they travel down south for a matchup against North Alabama. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.