GAMEDAY GUIDE
Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Queens Game Notes
 
QUEENS (3-5 OVERALL, 0-0 ASUN)
 
THE MATCHUP
Wednesday night marks the seventh all-time meeting between Queens and Gardner-Webb, with the Royals leading the series 4-2. The first-ever meeting between the two programs separated by 47 miles began in 1992.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Queens dropped a 94-69 tilt at Virginia on Friday night in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers were lethal from the perimeter, shooting 15-of-33 as six players reached double figures.
 
NON-CONFERENCE CHALLENGE
Queens has embarked on a fierce non-conference schedule with five opponents ranking in the top 50 of the KenPom rankings, including Villanova, Virginia, Wake Forest, Arkansas, and Auburn. KenPom has the Royals playing the 58^th hardest non-conference strength of schedule in the country.
 
DEFEND THE DEN
The Royals have handled their business at home since joining Division 1 in 2022. Queens is 30-13 overall at home, and 15-2 in non-conference games inside Curry Arena.
 
PERIMETER GAME
Queens enters Wednesday night 46^th in the country in three-pointers attempted. This season, the Royals are shooting 43 percent from behind the arc inside Curry Arena, but a tough 31 percent on the road.
 
ELITE SHOOTER
After breaking the single-season school record last season with 115 threes made, sharpshooter Chris Ashby is 36 threes away from breaking the all-time school record set by Chris Benson in 2003. The Royals will honor the Houston, Texas native ahead of Wednesday night's game for his historic season last year and reaching 1,000 career points in the final game last season.
 
DISHING DIMES
The Royals have found success this season when dishing out at least 16 assists in a game, as they are 3-1 on the year when hitting that mark. Queens ranks fourth in the league in assists per game in part due to freshman Jordan Watford facilitating the offense with 3.3 per game, a mark that ranks eighth in the ASUN.
 
DOUBLE THE MANN
Senior Nasir Mann is having a career-best season, averaging 14.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Mann ranks 12^th in the league in scoring and sixth in rebounding and is coming off a team-high 18 points at Virginia. The Gainesville, Florida, native has reached double figures in six straight games, including a career-high 21 points at Villanova.
 
STREET DOGS
A new face behind the Royals bench, Buddy, has become a staple in the Royals locker room. A new tradition started this season, head coach Grant Leonard awards Buddy, a hollow replica of a dog, to the "Street Dog of the Game," or the person who makes an energetic impact in the game. Buddy sits by that player's locker until the next game, and has even made appearances in the postgame press conferences.
 
TRIMMING THE TURNOVERS
After averaging 15.8 turnovers through the first five games, Queens has made drastic improvements securing the basketball and has only averaged 7.0 turnovers per game since.
 
 
GARDNER-WEBB (0-9 OVERALL, 0-0 BIG SOUTH)
SLOW START
Gardner-Webb is looking to rebound after a 0-9 start to the young season.
 
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Per KenPom, Gardner-Webb is playing the 54^th hardest non-conference strength of schedule in the country, with previous matchups against Minnesota, Clemson, DePaul, Richmond, and UNCW.
 
SCORING IN TRANSITION
Gardner-Webb likes to get out in transition, ranking 97^th in the country, and second in the Big South in fastbreak points.
 
DISTRIBUTE THE SCORING
Seven different Runnin' Bulldogs are averaging at least 5.0 points per game. Jacob Hudson leads the way with a team-high 10.7 points and has reached double figures in six games this season, including a season-high 22 against Elon.
 
AT THE HELM
Jeremy Luther enters his second season in charge of the Gardner-Webb program. In his 11 seasons in Boiling Springs, Luther helped the program to its first NCAA Division 1 Tournament appearance in 2018-19 and has played a role in knocking off six Power 5 programs.
 
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.