OPENING TIP
Score: Queens 94 | Eastern Kentucky 76
Records: Queens (9-14, 3-5 ASUN) | Eastern Kentucky (11-10, 7-1 ASUN)
Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.)
 
THE SHORT STORY: The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team knocked off the league-leading Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Thursday night behind an explosive offensive performance.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Royals junior leader AJ McKee was the catalyst for the Royals offense pouring in a team-high 22 points, including a 3-of-6 mark from downtown. The Charlotte native stuffed the stat sheet adding five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
• The reigning ASUN Newcomer of the Week, Deyton Albury added 22 points of his own on the night which marked the 14th straight time he surpassed double figures. The junior guard also pulled down a team-leading eight rebounds.
• Senior forward BJ McLaurin totaled 12 points on the evening as he drained a pair of shots from behind-the-arc. The veteran surpassed double digit points for the 13th game this year. 
• Highflying guard Kalib Mathews provided valuable minutes off the bench for the Royals. The Franklinton native added a season-high seven points, four rebounds, and dished out a season-high four assists.
• Newcomers Bryce Cash and Jacobi Sebock supplied valuable minutes combining to score 16 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Sebock earned his first start as a Royal and turned in 16 minutes of action.
• For the Colonels, Leland Walker led the way with 22 points on 7-for-15 shooting. The sophomore guard also pulled down six rebounds on the evening.
• The Royals offense was incredibly efficient on the night shooting 44 percent from the field, including a 50 percent mark in the second half to seal the door. Queens went 4-of-8 from downtown over the final 20 minutes.

NOTABLE MOMENTS

• Trailing 12-7 early in the first half, the Royals tightened the screws on defense and exploded for a 13-2 run to take a 20-14 lead with 11:10 to play. The Colonels would trim the Royals lead to as little as one before the Royals responded with a 7-2 run to take a 42-36 lead into the intermission.
• The Royals extended their lead to as much as 19 points in the second half at 75-56.
• The Colonels trimmed the Royals deficit to 80-69 with 4:39 to play. However, the hosts nailed clutch free throws to close the game out to seal the victory for the Royals.

 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• The Royals were magnificent from the free-throw line going 29-for-34 from the charity stripe. The 29 makes marked the most made free throws for the Royals since March 4th, 2020, and the most in Division 1 play.
• Queens shared the ball efficiently totaling 15 assists on the evening as they moved to 7-2 on the season when dishing out 15 or more assists.
• The bench provided a huge spark for the Royals in the massive win. Queens' bench totaled 22 points while the Colonels bench could only muster 12 of their own.
• The Royals continued their excellence inside Curry Arena moving to 8-2 this season and 16-7 across Division 1 play.
• Queens buried nine shots from downtown improving to 8-4 on the year when hitting their season average.
• Queens controlled the pace-of-play all night totaling 32 fast break points while holding Eastern Kentucky to only 12.

NEXT UP
The Royals are back in action this Saturday, February 3rd, as they host Bellarmine University inside Curry Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus. Queens faced Bellarmine twice last year and split the two matchups against the Knights.
 
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.