GAMEDAY GUIDE
Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.)
Watch
Stats
Tickets
Queens Game Notes
 
QUEENS (5-8 OVERALL, 0-0 ASUN)
 
THE MATCHUP
Thursday night marks the fifth all-time meeting between Queens and Eastern Kentucky, and the third in Charlotte. The Colonels command a 3-1 series advantage and took down the Royals 86-80 in overtime in their last meeting.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Queens wrapped up non-conference play with a 106-65 loss at Auburn on Monday night. After committing 11 turnovers in the first half, which Auburn turned into 17 points, the Royals cleaned up the miscues only committing three turnovers in the second half as the Tigers only outscored Queens 49-44 over the final 20 minutes. The Tigers were lethal from downtown, shooting 15-of-28 while holding the Royals to a 2-for-15 mark.
 
TITLE QUEST BEGINS
Queens will look to back up the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll, which had the Royals winning the league. The preseason recognition marked the first time the Royals were picked to win the league since joining in 2022.
 
SCORING OFFENSE
The Royals have been one of the nation's highest scoring mid-major offenses this season, averaging 82.5 points per game, a mark that ranks 94^th in the country. According to KenPom, the Royals rank 87^th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, which is the highest amongst ASUN programs.
 
DEFEND THE DEN
Queens is 33-13 inside Curry Arena, and 15-11 at home against ASUN competition over the last four seasons.
 
ELITE SHOOTER
After breaking the single-season school record last season with 115 threes made, sharpshooter Chris Ashby is 23 threes away from tying the all-time school record set by Chris Benson in 2003. Ashby was held scoreless from deep in the last two games, mark that's only happened four times in his career.
 
FRESHMAN FACILITATOR
Rookie Jordan Watford has been one of the nation's best first-year distributors, ranking 17th in the country among freshmen with 4.2 assists per game. Watford is averaging the most assists per game by a true freshman at Queens since Vashon Fullwood distributed 5.3 per game in 1991-92.
 
DOUBLE THE MANN
Senior Nasir Mann is having a career-best season, averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Mann ranks seventh in the league in scoring and 17^th in rebounding. Through non-conference action, the guard has eclipsed double figures in 11-of-13 games.
 
DEFEND, DEFEND, DEFEND
With the fierce non-conference stretch complete, Queens will look to improve their defensive efforts as the Royals are surrendering 89.0 points per game, the seventh most in Division 1. Opponents have connected on 9.7 threes per game against the Royals, and 15.3 over the last three games.
 
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.
 
EASTERN KENTUCKY (4-9 OVERALL, 0-0 ASUN)
SLOW START
After being picked to finish third in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll, Eastern Kentucky has started slow this season, bringing a 4-9 record into the league opener, with only two of those wins coming against Division 1 opponents.
 
OFFENSIVE BOARDS
The Colonels crash the offensive glass and rank 29^th in the nation with 14.1 offensive boards per game.
 
THREE-POINT SHOOTING
Eastern Kentucky can shoot from the perimeter connecting on 10.7 threes per game, a mark that ranks 28^th in the nation.
 
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Montavious Myrick was named the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and is averaging 10.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game this season.
 
VETERAN LEADER
A.W. Hamilton is in his eighth season at the helm of the EKU program. The 2023-24 ASUN Coach of the Year and NABC District III Coach of the Year led the Colonels to the 2023-24 ASUN Regular Season title, their first in 45 years.
 
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.