CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte head men's basketball coach Grant Leonard is pleased to announce the 2025-26 non-conference schedule on Monday afternoon. The slate features 13 games, including five inside Curry Arena. The Royals will square off with perennial national powerhouses from the SEC, ACC, Big East, A-10, MAAC, SoCon, and Big South.
 
"Wow, this schedule has stacked up to be incredible, especially for our fans," said Leonard. It will be tough and challenge our players. Let's start with opening day, the first game of the year for college basketball, at 8:00 a.m. against our crosstown rival, Winthrop! Then, we get two of the best from the Southern Conference in the ASUN/SoCon Challenge. We host UNC Greensboro at home, so let's pack Levine before meeting Furman in a newly renovated Timmons Arena, a venue where we have a ton of history in ourselves."
 
Queens will open up their fourth Division 1 campaign on Monday, November 3^rd, against Winthrop at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center. The 8:00 a.m. tipoff will kickstart the college basketball season as a part of the 2025 Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. The showdown with the Eagles will mark the eighth all-time meeting, and the third since Queens moved up to Division 1.
 
Following the opening day marathon, Queens will return to Charlotte and gear up for their home opener against Lynchburg on Wednesday, November 5^th. The Royals took down the Hornets last season 90-39 to open the season.
 
Queens will then head up north to the City of Brotherly Love for a four-team multi-team event hosted by Villanova. The Royals and Wildcats will square off on November 8^th inside Finneran Pavilion before Queens takes on Duquesne, a program that won the A-10 Championship and reached the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament just two seasons ago.
 
The Royals will return to the Queen City for the final game of the MTE when they host Sacred Heart inside Curry Arena on Saturday, November 15^th. The matchup with the Pioneers will mark the first all-time meeting between the two programs, and the Royals second clash with a school from the MAAC. Queens took down Fairfield 69-63 in the opener of the Market Street Challenge two seasons ago.
 
Queens will remain in Charlotte and prepare for an in-state showdown with UNC Greensboro on Thursday, November 20^th. The midweek tilt will mark the third all-time meeting, and the first since 1991, as the Royals hold a 2-0 series lead over the Spartans. The Royals will wrap up the month of November with a pair of road outings beginning at Furman on November 23^rd. Following the trip to Greenville, the Royals will head to Charlottesville for a meeting with the 2019 National Champions in Virginia, a program that has made 25 NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
The Royals will return home to open the month of December with back-to-back home games beginning on December 3^rd against Gardner-Webb. The Royals and Runnin' Bulldogs have a storied history dating back to 1992, with Queens controlling the all-time series 4-2. Queens will then turn their attention to South Carolina State on December 12^th for their first-ever meeting.
 
Queens will close out their non-conference slate with three fierce road outings against the ACC and SEC. The Royals will head to Winston-Salem for an in-state clash with Wake Forest on December 14^th before heading southwest to face Arkansas, a program coming off a Sweet 16 appearance and their 37^th NCAA Tournament berth. The Royals will wrap up 2025 and their non-conference schedule at Auburn on December 29^th. The Tigers are coming off their second Final Four appearance in school history after earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
 
"Our guys are ready for this," said Leonard. "We will stay in the fight, and this will prepare us for ASUN play."
 
The 2025-26 season will be historic as the Royals are eligible for NCAA postseason play after being granted full membership by the NCAA this summer. In three seasons at the Division 1 level, the Royals have made the ASUN Tournament every season and are coming off their first semifinal appearance.
 
Despite losing the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year in Malcolm Wilson and Second Team All-ASUN selection Leo Colimerio, the Royals bring back key contributors from a season ago. Third Team All-ASUN sharpshooter Chris Ashby returns after averaging 12.7 points per game, the second most on the team a season ago. The Houston, Texas native buried a single-season school record 115 threes last season, the ninth most in Division 1 men's basketball.
 
Key depth pieces also return for the Royals in Nasir Mann, Yoav Berman, and Maban Jabriel. The trio combined to score 20.0 points per game on 43 percent shooting from the field. Their contributions helped the Royals bench rank top 15 in the country and lead the ASUN in bench scoring.
 
Queens added key pieces this offseason through the transfer portal in Avantae Parker (Georgia Southern), Gus Larson (California-Berkeley), and Carson Schwieger (Valparaiso). Parker, a 6-9 junior, made 50 appearances for the Eagles and averaged 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. As a freshman, the Columbia, South Carolina native swatted 40 shots, which was the second most amongst first-year players, and eighth most in a single season in school history.
 
In addition to the portal, Queens signed elite high school talents in Jordan Watford, Isaiah Henry, and Danzelle Coles. Watford, a native of Lancaster, South Carolina, is the highest-ranked prospect to sign with the Royals. The 6-5 combo guard was a three-star prospect according to 247Sports and ESPN, and the number one player in the state, according to 247Sports. As a senior, Watford averaged 20.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game as he led the Bruins to a 4A State Championship.
 
Charlotte native Isaiah Henry elected to stay home after spending a season with the OTE Diamond Doves of PHHoenix Prep. The former Cannon School standout was a three-star prospect, and the 17^th best player in the state of Arizona according to 247Sports. With the Diamond Doves, Henry averaged 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game and turned in five double-doubles.
 
Coles, a native of Richmond, Virginia joined the Royals from St. Anne's-Belfield where he was named VPL All-Conference and helped the Saints claim their third straight VPL Conference title. Before joining the Saints, Coles helped Highland Springs capture the 5A State Championship. As a junior, Coles averaged 24.6 points per game and earned Region Player of the Year and All-Region honors.
 
Season tickets for the 2025-26 season are available today. Be sure to follow Queens Men's Basketball on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for news and updates throughout the offseason. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media to stay up to date on all the Royals sports in action.