SPRINGFIELD, MA – Looking to extend their two-game win streak, the Queens College men's basketball team dropped their final non-conference game of November on the road to the Yellow Jackets of American International College inside Henry A. Butova Gymnasium.
Three players registered in double-figures led by the sophomore duo of
Sunnie Diamond (Hiram, GA) and
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) who combined for 26 points, while senior
Tyler Carey (Bay Shore, N.Y.) tallied 10 points to lead the offense, but a sluggish second half would see the Knights drop their non-conference contest to the score of 64-55 Sunday afternoon.
Game Recap
It was a back-and-forth game in the first half as both sides matched each bucket for bucket in the first eight minutes of play.
After a three-pointer from sophomore
Tyron Wright (Camby, IN) put the Knights up 11-9 with 12:07 left, the Yellow Jackets would open a 12-2 run from the 11:43 mark to the 8:06 mark as the home side went up by eight, 21-13.
Queens would start to cut into the deficit as Diamond knocked down five straight free throws before a putback by Carey got the Knights within three, 23-20 with 6:37 left until halftime.
The Yellow Jackets would extend the lead back up to seven, 29-22 before senior
William Ellis (Valley Stream, N.Y.) helped Queens end the first half on a 10-1 run to take a 32-30 lead heading into halftime.
AIC opened the second half with two straight buckets before back-to-back long-distance shots from Chester put the Knights up 38-34 with 17:17 left in the game.
Both sides would trade leads before a jumper by Diamond put the Knights up 44-43 with 9:11 left in the game. But the Yellow Jackets tallied a 7-0 run from the 8:24 mark to the 6:10 mark for a 50-44 advantage.
The Knights would trade buckets as they looked to cut into the deficit as senior
Dion Herrington (Englewood, N.Y.) and Wright knocked down jumpers to get within two, 50-48 with 5:04 left in the game.
The Yellow Jackets would tally one final run as they went on an 8-2 run to take a 58-50 advantage before a three-pointer by Ellis brought the Knights within five, 58-53 with 1:12 left in the game.
It would be the closest Queens would get as they committed turnovers in their next two possession to drop the non-conference contest to the final score of 64-55.
With the loss, Queens moves to 3-3 on the season.
Game Highlights
- Three Knights recorded double figures led by Chester's 13 points (4-9 FG) and Diamond's 13 points (4-13 FG) with six rebounds and two steals.
- Carey recorded 10 (5-8 FG) with six rebounds, and Ellis tallied eight points (3-12 FG) with seven rebounds.
- While Wright earned his first start of the season and notched five points (2-6 FG) with a career-best eight rebounds.
- The Knights won the boards battle with a 38-33 edge and tallied a 9-6 advantage on second-chance points.
- Queens shot 38.9% with a 21-54 field goal shooting performance, while AIC shot 40.4% with a 23-57 performance from the field.
NEXT GAME: Head coach
Matt Collier and the Knights will use the week to prepare for their East Coast Conference opener as they travel to Buffalo, N.Y. on Friday (Dec. 2) evening as the Knights match up against the Saints of D'Youville University. Tip-off is set for 8:00 P.M.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), Twitter (@QCKnights), Queens College MBB (@QCKnights_MBB) and Instagram (qcknightsny), men's basketball (qcmensbball).
