FLUSHING, N.Y. –Looking to keep the momentum going, sophomore
Sunnie Diamond (Hiram, GA) continued where he left off Friday evening but the Queens College men's basketball team was unable to complete a comeback rally as they fell to the Setters of Pace University Saturday afternoon inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
The Knights matched up against last season's NCAA Men's Basketball East Regional semifinalists Setters but early foul trouble and late shooting woes would derail any comeback attempt as Queens fell to the score of 73-66 to conclude the ECC/NE10 Conference Challenge.
With the loss, the Knights move to 1-1 overall on the young season.
Coming off an impressive debut Friday evening against Adelphi University, Diamond continued his impressive start with a team-high 17 points
(6-14 FG) while senior
William Ellis (Valley Stream, N.Y.) notched season-high 16 points
(4-10 FG) on the evening. Senior
Tyler Carey (Bayshore, N.Y.) recorded 12 points
(3-8 FG) as three Knights registered in double figures.
In a thrilling back-and-forth game as each team had an answer to another in the first half, head coach
Matt Collier and his Knights showed they will not go down without a fight.
Ellis opened the scoring with a shot from downtown before each side traded points. With the Knights trailing 12-11 at the 12:50 mark, freshman
Eric Tynes' (Springfield, MA.) three-pointer helped Queens start an 11-4 run from 12:28 to 9:58 as the home side took a six-point edge of 22-16.
With the Setters struggling on their offensive end, the Knights would go into their own slump but would still maintain a lead. A layup by Carey at the 6:44 mark helped Queens break their scoreless drought as they continued to maintain their slim lead.
With the Knights leading 26-21 at the 5:19 mark, the Setters would slowly start to cut into the Knights' advantage with a 6-1 run as the Setters tied the game at 27-27 with 3:41 left until halftime.
But Queens would go into halftime trailing 35-34 as sophomore
Jayden Seraphin's (Lakeview, N.Y.) layup just before the game clock expired ensured the Knights only trailed by one.
Diamond and Carey helped Queens start the second half on a 6-2 run as they led by three, 40-37 at the 18:27 mark.
But the Setters would tie the game 40-40 at 17:12 before Ellis notched four quick points for a 44-40 lead.
However, a shooting slump and foul troubles would hurt the Knights as the Setters went on an 18-5 run from the 15:14 mark to 8:19 as the visitors took a nine-point edge of 58-49.
As the Setters started to get into foul trouble, free throws would help the Knights stay in the game especially with the game clock stopped. Following a Carey steal and a fast-break dunk from Seraphin, a nine-point deficit had become four with 5:05 left in the game as Queens trialed 60-56.
But it would be the closest the home team would get within as the Setters held on a 73-66 victory over the Knights.
Game Highlights
- Diamond recorded a career-high 17 points (6-14 FG) but four fouls would limit the sophomore to 30 minutes. Ellis recorded a season-high 16 points (4-10 FG) with five rebounds.
- While Carey recorded 12 points (3-8 FG), to go with a team-high seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.
- Queens were outrebounded by a 41-28 margin with the Setters recording 17-4 second chance points.
- Despite Queens shooting 76.47% (22-27 FT) from the charity stripe, a 35.8% field goal shooting percentage would hurt the comeback attempt.
NEXT GAME: Head coach
Matt Collier and the Knights hit the road for the first time this season with a trip to Rutherford, N.J. on Wednesday (Nov. 16) evening as they match up against Felician University Golden Falcons. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats: Men's Basketball | Live Stream: ECC Network
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