CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team will look to build on their hot start to ASUN play when the Royals welcome Florida Gulf Coast to Curry Arena on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus. Queens is coming off a convincing 96-87 victory over the reigning ASUN Tournament champions from Stetson to kick off league play.
 
GAMEDAY GUIDE VS. FGCU
Date: Thursday, January 4, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Queens Game Notes
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THE MATCHUP
Queens and FGCU are set to meet for the sixth time on Saturday afternoon since the Royals joined the league in 2022. Queens has squared off against FGCU more than any other program in the league and commands a 4-1 record against the Eagles with back-to-back victories in the opening rounds of the ASUN Tournament the last two seasons. All five meetings have been closely contested with the games being decided by two possessions on average. In their last matchup, Queens took down FGCU in the conference tournament behind a 15-point effort from Chris Ashby. The Royals crashed the glass and owned a 14-8 margin over the Eagles. Queens turned those second-chance opportunities into 19 points.
 
SCOUTING THE ROYALS (8-6 overall, 1-0 ASUN)

• Queens is coming off a 96-87 victory over Stetson to kick off conference play on Thursday night. Leo Colimerio led the offense matching his season-high with 27 points while adding six rebounds and five assists. Sharpshooter Chris Ashby connected on eight three-pointers to tie the single-game program record set by Todd Withers in 2017. The Houston native finished with a career-high 24 points.
• The stellar performances from Leo Colimerio and Chris Ashby on Thursday night marked the first time this season that two Royals scored 20+ points in the same game.
• Queens ranks third in the ASUN in assists per game with 16.3. The Royals are 7-2 in games this season when they distribute at least 15 assists. Queens is coming off a 21-assist performance against the Hatters as Bryce Cash and Leo Colimerio led the distribution with five dimes each.
• The Royals are looking to start 2-0 in ASUN play for the first time since joining the league.
• Queens has been tough to beat inside Curry Arena holding a 24-9 record in Division 1. Against ASUN foes in the Queen City, the Royals are 11-7, including 6-2 last season.
• Closing out games has been a key to success for the Royals as they are 38-6 in Division 1 when leading with five minutes to play. This season, the Royals are 8-0 with the lead at the five-minute mark.
• The Royals bench has shown its depth this season ranking top 25 in the country, and first in the ASUN in scoring with an average of 32.5 points per game. Key bench players Yoav Berman, Jaxon Pollard, Nasir Mann, and Maban Jabriel combine to score 25.5 points per game.
• As a team, Queens ranks tied for 30^th in the nation averaging 5.1 blocks per game. The mark leads the ASUN in part to 7-0 Malcolm Wilson's presence in the paint. The center leads the nation 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.
• Graduate student Leo Colimerio has found his groove averaging 16.2 points and 5.3 rebounds over the last nine games. During that span, Colimerio has turned in 27 points on two occasions, including the last outing against Stetson.
• Chris Ashby is tied with Kenny Dye for fourth all-time in career three-pointers made. Earlier this season, Ashby became the sixth player in program history to drain 200 career threes. The Houston native is coming off a career-high 24 points on eight three-pointers.
• Queens can score the ball in a hurry and hold a 6-0 record this season, and a 26-10 mark in Division 1 when dropping 80 points.
• 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 EAGLES (6-8 overall, 1-0 ASUN)

• FGCU enters Saturday afternoon 6-8 overall and 1-0 in ASUN play. The Eagles took down the league's newest member in West Georgia on Thursday night by a final score of 79-68.
• Pat Chambers is in his third season at the helm of the FGCU program. Under his direction, the Eagles have made back-to-back ASUN Tournament appearances. The former Penn State head coach led the Nittany Lions to a No. 9 national ranking in 2019-20 which was the highest ranking since 1996.
• The Eagles present a unique test ranking top 100 in the country in scoring defense as opponents are only netting 67.8 points per game. The mark is good for second in the ASUN behind Lipscomb. In five outings against Queens, the Royals have averaged 76.2 points.
• On the flip side of the ball, FGCU ranks 323rd in the country, and 11th in the ASUN in scoring offense pouring in 67.2 points per game.
• According to the NCAA, the Eagles have the 58th hardest strength of schedule in the country.
• Three Eagles are averaging double figures with Dallion Johnson leading the charge with 14.1 points per game.
• The ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Keeshawn Kellman returned to the Eagles and is averaging 11.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. The mark on the glass is good for top five in the ASUN.
• Junior Jevin Muniz is coming off a week in which he was named the ASUN Player and Newcomer of the Week. Muniz turned in a 15 point and 11 rebound double-double at Richmond last week.
• FGCU was picked to finished sixth in the ASUN Preseason Poll following a 14-18 overall mark, and 8-8 record in league play last season.

 
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