GAMEDAY GUIDE
Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, NC)
Watch (ESPN+)/WCCB Charlotte
Stats
Tickets
Queens Game Notes
 
QUEENS (11-8 OVERALL, 6-0 ASUN)
THE MATCHUP
Wednesday marks the fifth all-time meeting between Queens and North Alabama, with the series tied two a piece. The series has been a nail-biter between both teams, as the Royals are currently 2-0 against the Lions in their last two home meetings. The Royals took down the Lions in Curry Arena in 2025, 75-67, and in 2023, 107-78.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Queens took down the Hatters on Saturday afternoon inside the Insight Credit Union Arena at Edmunds Center behind a strong performance from the bench, netting 30 bench points. In the win, five different Royals reached double figures as Jordan Watford and Nasir Mann led the charge with 14 points and 20 points, respectively.

HOT START TO LEAGUE ACTION
Queens enters Wednesday a perfect 6-0 in league play, their best start in conference action since joining Division 1 in 2022. The Royals sit atop the ASUN standings after being picked to win the league in the Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
EVERYBODY EATS
The Royals ability to distribute the scoring throughout the lineup has resulted in nine games this season where five guys reach double figures in the same game. Queens is the only program in the ASUN with seven guys averaging at least 8.0 points per game.
 
SCORING OFFENSE
Five different Royals reached double figures for the ninth game this season as Queens leads the league in scoring offense. The Royals have been one of the nation's highest mid-major scoring offenses this season, averaging 84.2 points per game, a mark that ranks 53rd in the country and first in the league. According to KenPom, the Royals rank 72^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 broke the school record for three-pointers made in his career, breaking the all-time school record set by Chris Benson in 2003. Ashby leads the league with 63 made threes and averages 3.3 makes per game at a 38-percent clip.
 
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 ranks 140^th in the country and fourth in the league in 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. Watford, in the previous game, knocked down 14 points, five rebounds, five assists, and a steal. The Lancaster, South Carolina native has reached double figures in all six ASUN games.
 
DOUBLE THE MANN
Senior Nasir Mann is having a career-best season, averaging 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. Mann ranks 13^th in the league in scoring and seventh in rebounding. The guard has eclipsed double figures in 14-of-19 games this season. Mann led the charge in the Royals' previous game against the Hatters with 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals across 34 minutes of action. The double-double was his second of the season and third of his career.
 
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 fifth-best scoring defense in ASUN play through six games.
 
HOME COURT COOKIN'                                                                                                                                       
Since 2013-14, the Royals have posted a 262-85 record inside Curry Arena. Queens is 17-11 in conference games at home since joining Division 1.
 
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.
 
 NORTH ALABAMA (6-11 OVERALL, 1-5 ASUN)
FIND THEIR WAY
North Alabama enters Wednesday night 6-11 overall and 1-5 in ASUN play. The Lions dropped two straight last week at home to North Florida and Jacksonville.
 
LIONS DEPENDING ON THE DEFENSE
The Lions enter the game last in the ASUN, scoring 71.8 points per game, but have found success on defense, limiting opponents to 78.2 points per game, which is fifth best in the league.
 
SHOT BLOCKING DEFENSE
North Alabama is swatting 4.1 shots per game, which is second-best in the league. Center Jamal Albritton is leading the team with 1.3 per game.
 
LEADING SCORER
Four Lions are averaging double figures as Donte Bacchus leads the way with 13.6 points per game on 48 percent shooting from the field.
 
WILLIAMS DOMINATES ALL-AROUND
A player to watch for North Alabama is unanimous Preseason All-ASUN selection Corneilous Williams. The redshirt junior is averaging 13.7 points and a team-high 9.8 rebounds per game.
 
EIGHTH YEAR IN CHARGE
Tony Pujol is in his eighth season leading the UNA program. Pujol led the Lions to the school's first ASUN Regular Season title and their first NIT at-large bid in program history. Pujol was named a finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year in 2025, an award given to the top coach in mid-major basketball.
 
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.