GAMEDAY GUIDE
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Alico Arena (Fort Myers, Fla.)
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QUEENS (9-8 OVERALL, 4-0 ASUN)
THE MATCHUP
Thursday marks the ninth all-time meeting between Queens and FGCU, a series that the Royals lead 6-2. The series has been a contentious rivalry that has brewed over the years as the Royals have knocked FGCU out of the ASUN Tournament three straight seasons.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Queens took down North Florida on Saturday afternoon inside UNF Arena behind a strong rebounding effort that led to 20 second-chance points. In the win, five different Royals reached double figures as Avantae Parker led the charge with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
 
HOT START TO LEAGUE ACTION
Queens enters Thursday a perfect 4-0 in league play as they look to match their best start from last season when they rattled off five straight to open ASUN play.
 
EVERYBODY EATS
The Royals ability to distribute the scoring throughout the lineup has resulted in seven games this season where five guys reach double figures in the same game. Queens is 1-of-3 programs in the league with six guys averaging 8.0 points per game (EKU, Lipscomb)
 
SCORING OFFENSE
The Royals have been one of the nation's highest scoring mid-major offenses this season, averaging 84.0 points per game, a mark that ranks 62^nd  in the country and first in the league. According to KenPom, the Royals rank 82^nd in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, which is the highest amongst ASUN programs.
 
ELITE SHOOTER
After breaking the single-season school record last season with 115 threes made, sharpshooter Chris Ashby is three threes away from breaking the all-time school record set by Chris Benson in 2003.
 
FRESHMAN FACILITATOR
Rookie Jordan Watford has been one of the nation's best first-year distributors, ranking 12th 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 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Mann ranks 12^th in the league in scoring and 13^th in rebounding. The guard has eclipsed double figures in 13-of-17 games this season.
 
PARKER POWERS INTO DOUBLE FIGURES
Behind a 17-point and 12-rebound double-double from Avantae Parker, the Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team took down North Florida inside UNF Arena on Saturday afternoon. Parker led the Royals with his first double-double of the season, and second of his collegiate career.
 
BOX OUT
Since league play got underway, the Royals are averaging 37.0 rebounds per game, which leads the ASUN. Avantae Parker and Nasir Mann have been a force in ASUN play, bringing down 7.5 boards and 6.3 boards per game, respectively, both of which are top 15 in league play.

DEFEND, DEFEND, DEFEND
Queens has made significant strides on defense since league play started. The Royals wrapped up non-conference play as the second-worst scoring defense, but have flipped to the third-best scoring defense in ASUN play through four 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.
 
 
FGCU (7-10 OVERALL, 1-3 ASUN)
FIND THEIR WAY
FGCU enters Thursday night 7-10 overall and 1-3 in ASUN play. The Eagles are looking to get back on track after dropping two straight last week against Austin Peay and Lipscomb.
 
FGCU MAKING EFFORTS FROM PERIMETER
The Eagles are a Top 100 offense, dropping 81.4 points per game. A key to that scoring success has been perimeter shooting as FGCU is netting 9.1 per game, which is 96th in the country.
  
BARNO EFFECTIVE ALL-AROUND
Junior Rahmir Barno has been an impact player on both sides of the ball, netting 12.4 points and dishing out 5.7 assists. On defense, Barno is swiping 1.8 steals per game, which is third in the league.
 
ELITE SCORER
Notre Dame transfer J.R. Konieczny is having a standout season in Fort Myers, averaging a team-high 16.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, both of which rank top 10 in the ASUN. Konieczny has poured in 20+ points in seven games, including two straight.
 
FOURTH YEAR IN CHARGE
Pat Chambers is in his fourth season at the helm of the FGCU program. The former Penn State leader guided the Nittany Lions program to a No. 9 national ranking in 2019-20, which tied the program's best-ever ranking since 1996.
 
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.