ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – The 2023-2024 Queens College men's basketball season officially got underway Friday (Nov. 10) evening as the Knights matched up against the Setters of Pace University inside Quealy Gymnasium in Rockville Centre in game two of the ECC/NE10 Conference Challenge.
Three Knights scored in double figures led by senior guard
Sunnie Diamond (Atlanta, GA) who recorded a near triple-double with a team-high 28 points, while the duo of senior
Malik Bentinck (St. Albans, N.Y.) and junior
Jayden Seraphin (Lakeview, N.Y.) combined for 25 points but the Knights would fall short in a tough 88-80 double overtime to the Setters.
Match Recap
In a game that saw a total of seven ties and 15 lead changes, it would be a back-and-forth affair to begin the first half as both sides matched each other bucket for bucket. With the Knights trailing 30-25 with 5:58 left until halftime, Bentinck and Diamond would put the Knights on a 7-0 run to take a 32-30 lead.
With Queens leading 35-32 and 3:12 left in the first half, the Setters would end the first half on a 7-3 run to take a 39-38 into the locker rooms.
The Setters would take a four-point lead of 42-38 in the early going of the second half before Queens went on a 14-4 run for a 52-46 lead with 13:41 left in the second half.
However, Pace would mount a comeback rally to tie the game at 55-55 before sophomore
Eric Tynes (Springfield, MA.) put the Knights back up to the score of 57-55.
With the score tied at 60-60 and 7:22 left, a three-pointer from junior
Dante Griffin (Utica, N.Y.) would start a 9-3 run as the Knights held a six-point edge of 69-63 with 2:47 to go.
But turnovers would hurt the Knights as the Setters forced overtime and kept the Knights scoreless over the final 2:31 minute of play.
It would be the first overtime against their regional foe since the 2015-2016 season which saw Queens prevail to the score of 78-76 in their lone victory over the Pace in program history.
Diamond and Bentinck would put the Knights up by four, 73-69 with 3:07 to go in the first overtime. But a Setters 7-2 run would see the Knights trail 76-75 and 1:33 left on the game clock.
Seraphin would quickly respond for the Knights as Queens reclaimed the lead for a slim edge of 77-76. Leading by one, Diamond would 1-of-2 at the charity stripe to put the Knights up by two, 78-76. But with 33 seconds remaining, the Setters would tie the game 78-78 as they converted two free throws to force double overtime before neither side was unable find the winning bucket to force second overtime.
Once again Diamond would give the Knights a two-point lead of 80-78 with 4:06 remaining in the game, but it would be the Setters who would steal the victory as they closed out second overtime with a 10-0 run to earn a 88-80 win.
By the Numbers
- Diamond led the Knights' offense with a near triple-double as he recorded a team-high 28 points (8-22 FG, 11-13 FT) to go eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
- Bentinck recorded 14 points (6-15 FG) with seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal.
- Seraphin tallied 11 points (4-9 FG, 2-2 FT) and six rebounds.
- As a team, the Knights shot 41.4% going 29-70, while the Setters shot 45.3% shooting 29-64 from the field.
- But the Setters held an advantage from long distance as they shot 57.9% with 11-19 shooting compared to the Knights 22.7% as they went 5-22 from long distance.
- The Setters held a 44-40 rebounds margin as they recorded 12 second chance points compared to the Knights' eight points.
Next Game
The Knights wrap up the ECC/NE10 Conference Challenge as they match up against the Panthers of Adelphi University
(1-0 overall) on Saturday (Nov. 11) evening inside Quealy Gymnasium. Tip-off set for 6:00 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), X (Formerly Twitter) (@QCKnights), Queens College MBB (@QCKnights_MBB) and Instagram (qcknightsny), men's basketball (qcmensbball).
