NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team will open a four-game ASUN road swing on Thursday, January 9^th when the Royals battle the preseason favorites from Lipscomb inside Allen Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus. Queens is coming off a 2-0 week to kickstart conference play marking their best start in league play since joining the ASUN in 2022.
 
GAMEDAY GUIDE VS. LIPSCOMB
Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Location: Allen Arena (Nashville, Tenn.)
Watch (ESPN Plus)
Stats (Statbroadcast)
Queens Game Notes
Tickets

THE MATCHUP
Queens and Lipscomb enter Thursday night 2-0 after sweeping the opening week of conference play last week. The Thursday night tilt in the Music City will mark the third all-time meeting between the two programs, and the third straight in Nashville. The Bisons control a 2-0 series lead, but both of the previous meetings were decided by two possessions. In their only meeting last season, Lipscomb escaped victorious 90-88 despite three Royals scoring double figures. The difference in the game proved to be at the free throw line as the Bisons went 10-for-13 while the Royals finished 4-of-7. Since beginning the transition to Division 1 in 2022, the Royals are 3-4 in games played in Tennessee.
 
SCOUTING THE ROYALS (9-6 overall, 2-0 ASUN)

• Queens is coming off a 92-83 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday afternoon. The afternoon was highlighted by a career-high, and Division 1 program record of 35 points from Leo Colimerio. The Royals shot 52 percent from the field and drilled 12 three-pointers while holding the Eagles offense to a 45 percent mark from the field.
• Graduate student Leo Colimerio was named the CollegeInsider Lute Olson National Player of the Week and ASUN Player of the Week following his performances last week. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native averaged 31.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. Colimerio became the first player in Division 1 program history to receive national weekly honors.
• The 2-0 start in ASUN play is the Royals best start since joining the league.
• Thursday night will be a dime of a dozen as Queens and Lipscomb rank top two in the ASUN in assists per game averaging over 16.5. Sophomore Bryce Cash facilitates the Royals offense and ranks fifth in the league with 4.2 assists per game. This season, Queens is 8-2 when distributing at least 15 assists.
• The Royals are the league's fifth-best scoring offense with 76.9 points per game. This season, Queens is 7-0 when eclipsing 80+ points as they rank top 80 in tempo according to KenPom.
• Depth has been a key to success early for the Royals as they rank top 25 in the country, and first in the ASUN in bench scoring with 32.2 points per game.
• Closing out games has been a key to success for the Royals as they are 39-6 in Division 1 when leading with five minutes to play. This season, the Royals are 9-0 with the lead at the five-minute mark.
• Crashing the glass is a recipe for success for Queens as they are 8-1 on the season when outrebounding their opponents. The Royals and Bisons are tied for third in the league in rebounding with 37.5 per game.
• As a team, Queens ranks tied for 24^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.
• Sharpshooter Chris Ashby moved into fourth all-time for career three-pointers made with 216. Against Stetson, Ashby drained the most threes by a Royal in Division 1 with eight as a part of a career-high 24 points.
• Last season, Queens suffered a 14-game losing skid on the road, the longest stretch in program history. However, the Royals have turned the page winning two of their last three road games with their only loss coming at nationally-ranked Ole Miss.
• 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 BISONS (10-5 overall, 2-0 ASUN)

• Lipscomb enters Thursday night 10-5 overall and 2-0 in ASUN play. The Bisons are coming off a 2-0 week to start league play with victories at Jacksonville (70-65) and North Florida (96-64).
• Lipscomb was picked to win the league in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll after a 20-12 season last year.
• The Bisons have been tough to beat inside Allen Arena holding a 30-5 record over the last three seasons. Lipscomb has won six straight league games dating back to last season as Central Arkansas was the last ASUN group to escape Nashville victorious.
• Lennie Acuff is in his sixth season at the helm of the Lipscomb program. Under his direction, the Bisons are 95-77 and turned in back-to-back 20-win seasons.
• Lipscomb ranks third in the ASUN in scoring offense averaging 78.8 points per game. The Bisons are incredibly efficient leading the league with a 47 percent field goal percentage.
• On the defensive side of the ball, Lipscomb is the best scoring defense in the ASUN holding opponents to 66.4 points per game. The Bisons are holding opponents to the lowest mark from the field and the perimeter.
• Unanimous Preseason All-ASUN Team selection Jacob Ognacevic leads the charge with 18.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
• Veteran guard Will Pruitt, also named a unanimous Preseason All-ASUN Team, is coming off an 11 point, 13 rebound, and 10 assist triple-double against North Florida.
• Dylan Faulkner ranks second in the ASUN in blocked shots as he has swatted three or more blocks in five different games.
• The Bisons were ranked No. 24 in the CollegeInsider Preseason Mid-Major Top 25.

 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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