GAMEDAY GUIDE
Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Queens Game Notes
 
QUEENS (6-8 OVERALL, 1-0 ASUN)
 
THE MATCHUP
Saturday afternoon marks the fourth all-time meeting between Queens and Bellarmine, and the third in Charlotte. The Royals hold a 3-1 series lead over the Knights and taken the last two meetings. The series has been tightly contested, with 3-of-4 games being decided by an average of 3.3 points.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Queens opened ASUN play victorious after defeating Eastern Kentucky on Thursday night, 91-89 inside Curry Arena. After trailing 49-46 at the break, Queens amplified their defensive intensity in the second half and held the Colonels to a 38 percent clip from the field over the final 20 minutes. Freshman Jordan Watford was sensational, scoring a season-high 17 points, while Avantae Parker stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a block.
 
ASUN OPENERS
Since joining the ASUN in 2022, Queens has found success in league openers, going 3-1 in the first conference game of the season.
 
HOME COURT
The Royals are 34-13 inside Curry Arena, and 16-11 at home against ASUN competition over the last four seasons.
 
EVERYBODY EATS
On Thursday night, Queens saw five different Royals reach double figures in the same game for the sixth time this season. The Royals are 1-of-5 ASUN programs with at least four guys averaging double figures, and 1-of-2 programs with six guys averaging 8.0 points per game (Eastern Kentucky, 7)
 
SCORING OFFENSE
The Royals have been one of the nation's highest scoring mid-major offenses this season, averaging 83.1 points per game, a mark that ranks 81^st in the country. According to KenPom, the Royals rank 83^rd 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 22 threes away from tying 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 17th in the country among freshmen with 4.0 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 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Mann ranks 10^th in the league in scoring and 18^th in rebounding. The guard has eclipsed double figures in 12-of-14 games this season.
 
PARKER'S PAINT
Newcomer Avantae Parker has been incredibly efficient this season, averaging 11.1 points per game on 74 percent shooting from the field. Against likewise Division 1 opponents, the Columbia, South Carolina native is averaging 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game.
 
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 10.0 threes per game against the Royals, and 15.0 over the last 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.
 
 
BELLARMINE (5-8 OVERALL, 0-1 ASUN)
ASUN OPENER
Bellarmine dropped an 87-85 shootout at West Georgia to open conference play on Thursday night. Despite shooting 72 percent from the field in the second half, the Knights couldn't limit Shelton Williams-Dryden as the senior turned in a 28-point and 14-rebound double-double.
 
CHARITY STRIPE
Although Bellarmine doesn't get to the free-throw line often, the Knights are exceptional when they do, as they are second in the nation with a 79.8 percent clip from the stripe.
 
SCORING LEADER
Jack Karasinski leads the ASUN and ranks 16^th in the country with 21.1 points per game. The senior has eclipsed 20-plus points in eight games this season, scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds at West Georgia on Thursday night.
 
EFFECTIVE SHOOTING
Bellarmine presents a unique test offensively, averaging 78.8 points and ranking 18^th in the country in effective field goal percentage.
 
NEW DAVENPORT IN CHARGE
Doug Davenport, the son of former Bellarmine head coach Scott Davenport, is in his first season at the helm of the Bellarmine program. Since joining the staff in 2016-17, Doug has helped the Knights program take significant strides, including winning it's first-ever ASUN Tournament title and posting it's first 20-win season in Division 1.
 
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.