FLUSHING, N.Y. – Five Queens College men's basketball players provided double figures in scoring paced by a stellar debut from freshman Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) with 20-points (7-of-15 FG) in the Knights 83-78 season-opening victory over the Golden Falcons of Felician University Saturday afternoon at Fitzgerald Gymnasium. 
 
With the win, the Knights improve to 1-0, while the Golden Falcons move to 0-1 on the young season. 
 
Queens moved to 2-0 under head coach Matt Collier in home openers while opening the season on a high note for the first time since the 2017-18 season. 

How it Happened

The Knights would open the scoring with a layup as junior Tyler Carey (Bay Shore, N.Y.) put back a second chance in the paint at 19:36. But the Golden Falcons would score the next six points to take a 6-2 lead before Carey brought the Knights back within two with a layup at 15:48. 
 
Carey scored the first five points for the Knights but Felician would extend their lead to seven (14-7) with 12:51 left in the first half. Led by six quick points by freshman Jayden Seraphin (Lakeview, N.Y), the Knights would go on a 13-5 run and retake the lead following a Chester three-pointer on a fast break.
 
Trailing 32-28, the Knights would end the first half with a 9-2 run and take a 37-34 lead into halftime.
 
Clicking on both ends of the court, the Knights would get their first double-digit lead of the day behind a three-pointer from freshman Caudy Desmornes (Baldwin, N.Y.) and go up 52-41 with 15:07 left to play in the second half. 
 
Chester would put the Knights up 76-62, but with 6:13 remaining the Golden Falcons put together a 14-4 run over the course of five minutes and trimmed the lead down to 80-76. 
 
But that would be the closest Felician would get as William Ellis (Valley Stream, N.Y.) sealed the deal with a three-point play to make sure Queens opened the 2021-22 season on a high note as the Knights closed out the game with an 83-78 victory. 

By the Numbers

Chester led the Knights with 20 points and six rebounds, while Eddie Mehmetaj (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Ellis tallied their first double-double of the season. Mehmetaj tallied 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, while Ellis notched 12 points and 10 rebounds. Carey finished the day with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and three blocks. Seraphin provided quality minutes off the bench with 12 points. 
 
Queens shot 50.8 percent (33-of-65) from the field and 25.0 percent (4-of-16) from three. While Felician shot 42.9 percent (27-of-63) from the field and 25.0 percent (4-of-16) from beyond the arc. Queens won the rebounds battle with a 46-29 margin.
 
UP NEXT: Queens returns to action on Saturday (Nov. 20) as they travel to Philadelphia, PA on with a matchup against Holy Family University Tigers. Tipoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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