CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team is set to open a four-game homestand on Thursday, January 23^rd when the Royals welcome North Florida to Curry Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Curry Arena and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus. Queens will look to maintain their position at the top of the ASUN standings after seeing their perfect record in ASUN play snapped last outing at FGCU.
 
GAMEDAY GUIDE VS. NORTH FLORIDA
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Stats (Statbroadcast)
Queens Game Notes
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THE MATCHUP
Queens and North Florida are set to battle for the sixth time since their first meeting in 1993 when both programs were Division 2. In the new Division 1 era, the Royals are 0-3 against the Ospreys. In their last meeting, former Osprey standout and current Tennessee Volunteer Chaz Lanier posted 29 points and nine rebounds in the 93-79 win. Former Queens star AJ McKee turned in a game-high 30 points while adding four assists and two steals. The last meeting was won on the glass as North Florida outrebounded the Royals 40-34, including a 13-10 mark on the offensive glass. The Ospreys used those second-chance opportunities and converted 19 points.

SCOUTING THE ROYALS (12-7 overall, 5-1 ASUN)

• Queens enters Thursday night coming off a 1-1 week in which they defeated Stetson before falling at FGCU on Saturday afternoon. The loss against the Eagles snapped a five-game winning streak as the Royals struggled to connect offensively shooting 29-percent from the field. Chris Ashby led the Royals with 14 points while Leo Colimerio added 12 points and five rebounds.
• In their last outing, the Royals suffered their worst shooting mark in Division 1 connecting on 29 percent of their attempts.
• The 47 points against FGCU was the lowest scoring output by Queens since December 9, 2010.
• Queens sits tied for the lead in the ASUN with a 5-1 record. The mark is the best start to league play since joining the conference in 2022.
• Depth has been a key to success early for the Royals as they rank 15^th in the country, and first in the ASUN in bench scoring with 32.3 points per game.
• As a team, Queens ranks tied for 15^th in the nation averaging 5.3 blocks per game. The mark leads the ASUN in part to 7-0 Malcolm Wilson's presence in the paint. The center has led the nation all season in blocked shots and became the fourth player in NCAA Division 1 men's basketball since 2014 to block 34+ shots before December 1^st.
• Closing out games has been a strength for Queens this season as the Royals are 12-0 when leading with five minutes to go.
• Crashing the glass is a recipe for success for Queens as they are 11-1 on the season when outrebounding their opponents.
• Queens is 9-2 on the season when dishing out 15+ assists. The Royals are averaging 16.0 dimes per game which ranks third in the ASUN. Sophomore Bryce Cash has facilitated the offense with 4.2 assists per game which is fourth most in the league.
• Chris Ashby sits fourth all-time in career three-pointers made as a Royal. The senior is looking to become the fourth player in school history to hit 100+ threes in a single season as he sits at 62.
• Graduate student Leo Colimerio has been named the CollegeInsider Lute Olson National Player of the Week, Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week, and ASUN Player of the Week earlier this season. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native leads the Royals with 12.8 points per game while adding 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
• Senior Kalib Mathews has been a sparkplug for the Royals this season. The Franklinton native is averaging 11.0 points and 5.5 rebounds over the last four games. Against Stetson, Mathews grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
• Freshmen Yoav Berman and Maban Jabriel have made incredible strides this season making an appearance in all 19 games. Berman is pouring in 7.2 points per game while grabbing 3.3 rebounds per contest. Jabriel is adding 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
• Gainesville native Nasir Mann threw down an electric dunk last Thursday night which made No. 3 on ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 plays.
• Queens was picked to finish ninth in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll. Since joining the league in 2022, the Royals have finished at least two positions higher than projected and claimed their spot in back-to-back ASUN Tournaments.

 
SCOUTING THE OSPREYS (9-10 overall, 2-4 ASUN)

• North Florida enters Thursday night 9-10 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The Ospreys are coming off a 1-1 week in which they took down Central Arkansas 92-80 before falling to North Alabama 90-84 in Jacksonville.
• Matthew Driscoll is in his 16th season at the helm of the North Florida program. Under his direction, the Ospreys are 242-257 and won the ASUN regular season three times while capturing the tournament title in 2015. Driscoll is a three-time ASUN Coach of the Year and the the winningest coach in UNF and ASUN history.
• The Ospreys are the 19th ranked scoring offense in the nation pouring in 84.3 points per game, a mark that leads the ASUN. North Florida attempts and makes the most three-pointers in the country with 13.0.
• Defense has been the weakness for the Ospreys this season as they are surrendering a league-worst 85.1 points per game. The mark is the fourth worst in Division 1 men's basketball.
• Five Ospreys are averaging double figures as Jasai Miles leads the way with 14.9 points per game. The sophomore has reached double figures in 13 straight games and dropped a season-high 30 points against Georgia Southern. In league play, Miles is averaging 16.8 points per game.
• Sophomore Jaylen Smith facilitates the Ospreys offense with 11.9 points and 5.6 assists per game. Smith leads the ASUN and ranks 34th in the country in assists per game.
• North Florida was picked to finish seventh in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll and Media Poll.

 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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