FLORENCE, Ala. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team will head to Florence, Alabama for a pivotal regular season showdown with the league-leaders in North Alabama on Wednesday, February 26^th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus. Wednesday night has key seeding implications for the ASUN Tournament as the Lions will look to secure a top two seed while the Royals can lock up the fourth seed with a victory and losses from Jacksonville and Eastern Kentucky.
 
GAMEDAY GUIDE AT NORTH ALABAMA
Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall (Florence, Ala.)
Watch (ESPN Plus)
Stats (StatBroadcast)
Queens Game Notes
Tickets

THE MATCHUP
Queens and North Alabama are set to meet for the fourth time in Division 1, and second time this season. The Royals hold a 2-1 advantage over the Lions, including a 75-67 victory in the Queen City last month. In that victory, five different Royals reached double figures and the Queens bench outscored North Alabama 37-6. Wednesday night has massive implications on the ASUN standings as the Lions can secure a top two seed with a victory. The Royals are able to secure the fourth seed with an opportunity to host a tournament game with a victory and losses from Jacksonville and Eastern Kentucky.

SCOUTING THE ROYALS (18-12 overall, 11-6 ASUN)

• Queens enters Wednesday night coming off a 72-57 victory at West Georgia on Monday night. In the win, 11 different Royals scored as the bench totaled 41 points to keep pace in the top four of the league standings. Freshman Yoav Berman was electric in the victory matching his season-high with 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, and 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
• The Royals enter the regular season finale tied for the fourth spot with Jacksonville and Eastern Kentucky. Queens can clinch the fourth seed and earn the opportunity to host a first-round ASUN Tournament game with a win at North Alabama, and losses from Jacksonville and Eastern Kentucky. The Dolphins and Colonels both hold the tiebreaker over the Royals with head-to-head victories.
• In ASUN play, Queens is 6-2 on the road, which is the second-best road winning percentage in league play this season. Queens is 3-1 in their last four road games with their only loss coming in overtime at Eastern Kentucky.
• Queens has matched their Division 1 program record with 18 wins this season. In their inaugural Division 1 campaign, the Royals posted an 18-15 overall record. In addition, Queens is 11-6 in league play this year marking the most wins in ASUN action by the Royals since joining the league in 2022.
• Since joining the ASUN in 2022, Queens has surpassed their projected finish every season. In their first season, the Royals were picked to finish 13^th and finished ninth. Last season, Queens was picked to finish 10^th and turned in an eighth-place finish.
• The Royals bench has been a key to success ranking 13^th in Division 1, and leading the ASUN in scoring with 31.80 points per game. Key contributors have been Yoav Berman (8.2 PPG), Jaxon Pollard (7.7 PPG), Nasir Mann (6.7), and Maban Jabriel (5.5). Across the squad, nine different Royals are averaging at least 5.0 points per game.
• Queens has been lockdown this season when it comes to closing games out holding an 18-1 record when leading with five minutes to go. The Royals saw their streak of 16 straight wins when leading with five minutes to go get snapped in an overtime thriller at Eastern Kentucky.
• Fresno State transfer Leo Colimerio has paced the Royals offense with 13.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game this season. The graduate student has been one of the league's top newcomers averaging 15.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in ASUN play which all rank top 20 in the league. Colimerio has dropped 20+ points in eight games this season and reached the 1,000 career-scoring milestone against Austin Peay last week.
• Sharpshooter Chris Ashby has been one of the nation's top perimeter shooters this season ranking second in the nation in threes made with 104. Last week, Ashby became the first player in Division 1 program history to make 100 threes in a single season. The Houston native has turned it on at the end of the season averaging 18.0 points on 4.3 made threes over the last eight games.
• The nation's leading shot blocker Malcolm Wilson swatted his 100^th block of the season last outing to become the first player in Division 1 program history to block 100 shots in a single season. The Georgetown transfer has swatted the second-most shots in a single season and recorded 11 five-block performances this season.
• Kalib Mathews continues to flourish in his final season in the Queen City. The Franklinton native has appeared in the third most games in program history at 134 and is averaging 7.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.
• Sophomore Bryce Cash has filled the stat sheet each night as the Charlotte native is averaging 4.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and a team-high 4.1 assists per game. The unanimous All-ASUN freshman team selection from a season ago has dropped double figures in four games this season.
• Freshmen Yoav Berman and Maban Jabriel have been key to the Royals depth appearing in all 30 games this season. Berman is third on the team in scoring with 8.2 points per game and coming off 22 points at West Georgia to match his season high. Jabriel has used his 6-9 frame to add 5.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks per game
• Queens was picked to finish ninth in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll.

SCOUTING THE LIONS (21-9 overall, 13-4 ASUN)

• North Alabama enters Wednesday night 21-9 overall and 13-4 in ASUN play. The Lions are coming off a 93-70 victory at Central Arkansas on Monday night.
• Wednesday night is pivotal for the Lions as a victory will secure a top two seed and the opportunity to host throughout the tournament.
• The Lions have been lethal on their home court holding a 13-1 record this season inside CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall. North Alabama has won eight straight leagues games at home dating back to last season.
• Tony Pujol is in his seventh season at the helm of the North Alabama program. Under his direction, the Lions are 99-112 and turned in their highest win total in nearly 10 years during the 2013-14 season. That year, the Lions competed in their first NCAA Division 1 postseason game with an appearance in the CBI Tournament.
• North Alabama presents a high-octane offense that ranks second in the ASUN, and 55th in the country in scoring with 79.5 points per game. The Lions take high-percentage shots sitting fourth in the league in field goal percentage at 46 percent.
• On defense, North Alabama is surrendering 70.9 points per game, but stellar perimeter defense is holding opponents to a 32 percent clip from behind the arc which ranks second in the league. The Lions are physical on the boards as they lead the ASUN with 38.1 rebounds per game.
• Preseason All-ASUN selection Jacari Lane is the sparkplug for the Lions averaging 16.8 points per game on 42 percent shooting. The junior is adding 3.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, a mark that ranks sixth in the league.
• Taye Fields is a player to watch for the Lions as the guard is averaging 11.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. The senior ranks second in the ASUN in rebounding behind his teammate Corneilous Williams.
• North Alabama was picked to finish third in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll following a 15-17 mark last season.

 
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