Wednesday, November 4
Los Angeles, Calif.
10:00 PM
Queens University of Charlotte
at
LMU (Loyola Marymount)
Photo by: Collin Felker
11/3/2026 5:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif – Queens University of Charlotte Men's Basketball is set to begin a three-game road trip on Wednesday (Nov. 4) starting with Loyola Marymount inside the Gersten Pavillion.
Following LMU, Queens will travel to Oklahoma State (Nov. 6) and BYU (Nov. 10) for a pair of Big 12 matchups.
"Overall, there are a lot of positive takeaways from the win over Winthrop," said Grant Leonard. "I was very proud of us winning the battle in the paint. We need to clean some things up and learn how to execute better down the stretch. The season is a long journey so we will continue to grow, but I liked how we responded to Winthrop's run."
GAME DAY DETAILS
Queens (1-0) at Loyola Marymount (0-0)
Wednesday Nov. 4 – 10:00 p.m. (ET)
Gersten Pavillion – Los Angeles, Calif.
Television: ESPN+
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
WINTHROP RECAP
Queens jumped out to an early lead in the opening minutes of the first half by getting out in transition. Nasir Mann and Rickey Ballard each knocked down a three-pointer to give the Royals an 8-2 advantage at the first timeout.
In the first half, Queens did a great job of attacking downhill and getting to the free throw line. Despite shooting 60% from the charity stripe (6-10) the Royals shot an efficient 61.1% from the floor (22-36) led by Mann who scored a team-high 13 points highlighted by a 3-5 shooting clip from behind the arc to fuel a 55-38 halftime lead.
Queens led by as many as 18 points in the second half, but Winthrop did not go down without a fight. The Eagles drained 10 threes and scored 60 points in the second half. Spence Sims, a transfer from Gardner-Webb, impressed in his first game at Winthrop with 19 points, scoring 12 of them in the second half on four made threes.
Poised for a strong sophomore season, Watford put on the superman cape in the second half and helped Queens hold on for the win. The Lancaster, S.C. native finished the game with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. To close out the game, Watford scored 14 points and dished out three assists. Perhaps the most important assist of the game, Watford found Caleb Jones for a three-pointer after Winthrop had cut the deficit to single digits.
"Coach preaches to us to just make the easy plays and simplify the game," said Watford. "We emphasize not forcing anything and taking what the defense gives us. Our energy was much better today all-around from the court to the bench."
ASUN FAVORITES
The Royals were picked first in the preseason Atlantic Sun coaches' poll, receiving five of the eight first place votes. Avantae Parker was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while earning All-Conference recognition alongside Nasir Mann and Jordan Watford. Queens and UCONN are the only two teams in the country to return three non-conference players from last season.
NEW FACES
In addition to returning Parker, Watford, and Mann, the Royals bring back Isaiah Henry who is poised for a breakout sophomore season in an expanded role. Corbin Pack (Wingate) and Rickey Ballard (Grambling State) join Queens as graduate transfers while Caleb Jones, Nic McLean, and Atakan Bicer bring potential as incoming freshmen.
The freshmen duo of Caleb Jones and Nic McLean impressed in their collegiate debuts, combining for 29 points off the bench. McLean scored 14 points to go along with three steals and two made three-pointers. Perhaps the play of the game down the stretch was Jones' three-pointer with a minute remaining to extend the Queens lead to 96-88. For the game, Jones totaled 15 points on six of seven shooting from the floor.
"Caleb is a fantastic player, an electric scorer, and an elite playmaker," said head coach Grant Leonard. "He will have a huge impact on our season. We couldn't be more excited about him joining our family."
A steady veteran presence within the locker room has helped Jones prepare for his freshman season.
"This was an exciting game," added Caleb Jones. "I've relied heavily on guys like Jordan Watford and other vets on the team in preparation for the season. I just try to have fun out there and control what I can control."
SERIES HISTORY
Queens and Loyola Marymount are set to meet for the first time in series history on Wednesday night while this also marks the first time the Royals have played a team from the West Coast Conference.
SCOUTING LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
Loyola Marymount is coming off a 15-17 season while going 6-12 within WCC play. In the preseason poll, LMU was picked sixth in the conference while guard All Wright was named to the WCC Preseason Team.
Wright joins LMU after transferring from Xavier where he averaged 11 points per game shooting 42.2% from behind the arc. Â At Valparasio, Wright earned Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and broke the program's freshman scoring record. His 526 points were the most in the conference for a freshman since Doug McDermott in 2010-11.
In 2025-26, LMU started the season 6-0 for the best start during the seven-year tenure of Stan Johnson.
This year's LMU squad features eight transfers with four returning players highlighted by Aaron McBride who was second on the team last season in rebounding (5.6 per game).
Jevon Porter returns to LMU after spending last season at Missouri and most recently, in the NBA's Salt Lake City Summer League for the Memphis Grizzlies. Porter played for LMU in 2024-25, started in 31 of 32 games, and earned a spot on the All-WCC Honorable Mention team.
Jasai Miles (North Florida) and Donovan Rivers (Jacksonville) are two former ASUN players on the LMU roster this season.
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Following LMU, Queens will travel to Oklahoma State (Nov. 6) and BYU (Nov. 10) for a pair of Big 12 matchups.
"Overall, there are a lot of positive takeaways from the win over Winthrop," said Grant Leonard. "I was very proud of us winning the battle in the paint. We need to clean some things up and learn how to execute better down the stretch. The season is a long journey so we will continue to grow, but I liked how we responded to Winthrop's run."
GAME DAY DETAILS
Queens (1-0) at Loyola Marymount (0-0)
Wednesday Nov. 4 – 10:00 p.m. (ET)
Gersten Pavillion – Los Angeles, Calif.
Television: ESPN+
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
WINTHROP RECAP
Queens jumped out to an early lead in the opening minutes of the first half by getting out in transition. Nasir Mann and Rickey Ballard each knocked down a three-pointer to give the Royals an 8-2 advantage at the first timeout.
In the first half, Queens did a great job of attacking downhill and getting to the free throw line. Despite shooting 60% from the charity stripe (6-10) the Royals shot an efficient 61.1% from the floor (22-36) led by Mann who scored a team-high 13 points highlighted by a 3-5 shooting clip from behind the arc to fuel a 55-38 halftime lead.
Queens led by as many as 18 points in the second half, but Winthrop did not go down without a fight. The Eagles drained 10 threes and scored 60 points in the second half. Spence Sims, a transfer from Gardner-Webb, impressed in his first game at Winthrop with 19 points, scoring 12 of them in the second half on four made threes.
Poised for a strong sophomore season, Watford put on the superman cape in the second half and helped Queens hold on for the win. The Lancaster, S.C. native finished the game with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. To close out the game, Watford scored 14 points and dished out three assists. Perhaps the most important assist of the game, Watford found Caleb Jones for a three-pointer after Winthrop had cut the deficit to single digits.
"Coach preaches to us to just make the easy plays and simplify the game," said Watford. "We emphasize not forcing anything and taking what the defense gives us. Our energy was much better today all-around from the court to the bench."
ASUN FAVORITES
The Royals were picked first in the preseason Atlantic Sun coaches' poll, receiving five of the eight first place votes. Avantae Parker was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while earning All-Conference recognition alongside Nasir Mann and Jordan Watford. Queens and UCONN are the only two teams in the country to return three non-conference players from last season.
NEW FACES
In addition to returning Parker, Watford, and Mann, the Royals bring back Isaiah Henry who is poised for a breakout sophomore season in an expanded role. Corbin Pack (Wingate) and Rickey Ballard (Grambling State) join Queens as graduate transfers while Caleb Jones, Nic McLean, and Atakan Bicer bring potential as incoming freshmen.
The freshmen duo of Caleb Jones and Nic McLean impressed in their collegiate debuts, combining for 29 points off the bench. McLean scored 14 points to go along with three steals and two made three-pointers. Perhaps the play of the game down the stretch was Jones' three-pointer with a minute remaining to extend the Queens lead to 96-88. For the game, Jones totaled 15 points on six of seven shooting from the floor.
"Caleb is a fantastic player, an electric scorer, and an elite playmaker," said head coach Grant Leonard. "He will have a huge impact on our season. We couldn't be more excited about him joining our family."
A steady veteran presence within the locker room has helped Jones prepare for his freshman season.
"This was an exciting game," added Caleb Jones. "I've relied heavily on guys like Jordan Watford and other vets on the team in preparation for the season. I just try to have fun out there and control what I can control."
SERIES HISTORY
Queens and Loyola Marymount are set to meet for the first time in series history on Wednesday night while this also marks the first time the Royals have played a team from the West Coast Conference.
SCOUTING LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
Loyola Marymount is coming off a 15-17 season while going 6-12 within WCC play. In the preseason poll, LMU was picked sixth in the conference while guard All Wright was named to the WCC Preseason Team.
Wright joins LMU after transferring from Xavier where he averaged 11 points per game shooting 42.2% from behind the arc. Â At Valparasio, Wright earned Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and broke the program's freshman scoring record. His 526 points were the most in the conference for a freshman since Doug McDermott in 2010-11.
In 2025-26, LMU started the season 6-0 for the best start during the seven-year tenure of Stan Johnson.
This year's LMU squad features eight transfers with four returning players highlighted by Aaron McBride who was second on the team last season in rebounding (5.6 per game).
Jevon Porter returns to LMU after spending last season at Missouri and most recently, in the NBA's Salt Lake City Summer League for the Memphis Grizzlies. Porter played for LMU in 2024-25, started in 31 of 32 games, and earned a spot on the All-WCC Honorable Mention team.
Jasai Miles (North Florida) and Donovan Rivers (Jacksonville) are two former ASUN players on the LMU roster this season.
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Players Mentioned
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