GAMEDAY GUIDE
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.)
Watch (ESPN+)
Stats
Tickets
Queens Game Notes
 
QUEENS (12-9 OVERALL, 7-1 ASUN)
THE MATCHUP
Wednesday evening marks the fifth all-time meeting between Queens and Central Arkansas. The Royals command a 3-1 series lead over the Bears. In their last matchup against the Bears, five players went into double figures while Chris Ashby led the charge with 25 points to lead Queens to a 89-72 victory in Curry Arena.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Queens came up just short in their last matchup against West Georgia, falling 74-66 in a tight game. In the final minute, Yoav Berman knocked down a clutch three-pointer and put the Royals down by two, but the Wolves turned it around with a clutch jumper and ran away with four made free throws to ice the game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
BOUNCE BACK - HOT START TO LEAGUE ACTION
Queens enters Wednesday evening 7-1 in ASUN play after a perfect 7-0 start. The perfect record marked the best start to ASUN play since joining the league in 2022. The last time Queens rattled off seven straight wins was their final year of Division 2 in 2021-22, when they strung together 16 consecutive wins.
 
NCAA TOP 100 SHOOTERS
Sharpshooter Chris Ashby is four threes away from moving into the NCAA's Top 100 all-time three-point field goals made. The Houston, Texas native holds the school record for threes made as well as the single-season record (115) set last season.
 
BERMAN'S BUCKETS
Since ASUN play got underway, sophomore Yoav Berman has stepped up with 12.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. The Tel Aviv, Israel native has reached double figures in 7-of-8 league games, and is coming off 10 points, five assists, and four rebounds against West Georgia.
 
EVERYBODY EATS
The Royals ability to distribute the scoring throughout the lineup has resulted in 10 games this season where five guys reach double figures in the same game.
 
OFFENSE WINS GAMES, DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Since league play started, the Royals have been one of the top offenses and defenses in the league. The Royals are pouring in 85.0 points per game, which is second-best, while keeping opponents to 73.6 points per game, which is fourth-best in the league.
 
FRESHMAN FACILITATOR
Rookie Jordan Watford has been one of the nation's best first-year distributors, ranking 18th in the country among freshmen with 3.9 assists per game. Watford ranks 184th in the country and fifth 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.
 
DOUBLE THE MANN
Senior Nasir Mann is having a career-best season, averaging 13.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Mann ranks 15th in the league in scoring and seventh in rebounding. The guard has eclipsed double figures in 15-of-21 games this season.
 
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.
 
CENTRAL ARKANSAS (10-10 OVERALL, 5-2 ASUN)
RIDING HIGH
Central Arkansas enters Wednesday night 10-10 overall and 5-2 in ASUN action. The Bears are riding a three-game winning streak into the new week after sweeping North Florida and West Georgia last week.

BEARS ARE SUCCESSFUL AT HOME
Despite being 9-1 at home this season, the Bears have struggled to find their way on the road, going 1-9. UCA picked up its first road win of the season last outing with an 86-65 victory at West Georgia.
 
BEARS ARE DANGEROUS FROM THE PERIMETER
The Bears get up their share of triples, averaging 31.8 threes per game, a mark that ranks 11th in the country.
 
ASUN PLAY DOMINANCE
Since ASUN play started, the Bears have been the third best scoring offense (82.4 PPG.) and defense (73.3 PPG.).
 
CAMREN HUNTER ALL-AROUND PLAYER
Senior Camren Hunter returned to Conway after transferring to Wisconsin and leads the Bears with 17.5 points per game. Hunter is also adding 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
                                                                                                                                                                                                               
ROBINSON STAR OF ASUN PLAY                                                                                                                              
Ty Robinson has been a force in ASUN play, pouring in 17.4 points per game while adding 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
 
SECOND YEAR IN CHARGE
John Shulman is in his second season in charge of the Bears program. Despite an injury-riddled 2024-25 campaign, Shulman guided the program to the ASUN Tournament and their second ASUN Tournament victory.
 
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.