FLUSHING, N.Y. – It was a quick turnaround for the Queens College men's basketball team as they went up against the nationally ranked #22 St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans Sunday afternoon in East Coast Conference action.
The Spartans had an answer for each rally the Knights threw at them but the home side would ultimately fall short as they were defeated 75-68 inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
With the loss, the Knights moved to 8-9 overall, 6-7 in ECC play, while the Spartans improved to 20-4 overall, 13-1 in conference play.
How It Happened
Both teams got off to a slow start as they combined for 0-7 from the field before Spartans got the scoreboard at 17:54. Queens quickly answered back as freshman
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) knocked down a three 20 seconds later.
STAC would go up 6-3 before Chester connected from deep once again to tie the game 6-6 with 16:49 left in the first half. The visitors would go up by five, 13-8 before the Knights answered with a 5-0 run to tie the game once again.
But the Knights would be held without a field goal from 12:02 to 4:54 as the Spartans went on a 13-2 run to take a 26-15 lead. Senior
Evan Goldberg (Wantagh, N.Y.) would stop the draught before a three from freshman
Jayden Seraphin (Lakeview, N.Y) got the Knights within six, 26-20 with 4:22 to go until halftime.
The Spartans continued to answer each Knights' bucket and take a 34-28 lead into halftime.
STAC opened the second half on a 5-0 run and go up by 11, 39-29 before Chester opened the second half scoring for the Knight with a jumper top of the key. But the visitors would continue to keep a lead above 12 as Queens attempted two different rallies.
The Knights cut the lead down to five, 50-45 with 10:08 left in the game as senior
Eddie Mehmetaj (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Seraphin combined for five points. But the visitors would respond and extend their lead back to 10, 59-49 at the 6:41 mark.
Trailing by 11, 71-60 with 2:16 to go, Queens made their final attempt as Chester and Mehmetaj combined for six points and cut the deficit down to five, 71-66 with 1:12 to go.
With less than 50 seconds to go, Queens would get a defensive stop but the Knights were unable to convert on the offensive end and ultimately fall short 75-68 on the day.
By the Numbers
Mehmetaj led the Knights with his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points (6-of-11 FG), 10 rebounds, and four assists. While Chester tallied 14 points (5-of-6 FG, 3-of-3 3PT) with four rebounds and three assists. While junior
William Ellis (Valley Stream, N.Y.) notched 10 points (5-of-10 FG) off the bench.
Queens shot 46.7 percent (28-of-60) from the field, 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from beyond the arc, while the Spartans shot 49.2 percent (31-of-63) from the field, 40.0 percent (8-of-20) from three.
UP NEXT: Queens travel to Rochester, N.Y. as they take on Roberts Wesleyan College Redhawks Wednesday (Feb. 16) evening in their final regular-season road trip. Tip-off set for 7:00 p.m.
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