FLUSHING, N.Y. – Playing in their third overtime game of the year, the senior duo of
Sunnie Diamond (Atlanta, GA) and
Malik Bentinck (Queens, N.Y) combined for nine points as the Queens College men's basketball team defeated regionally-ranked #7 Daemen University Wildcats inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium in East Coast Conference play.
Three Knights scored in double-figures led by Diamond's second double-double of the year with a game-and-season-high of 33 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, while the duo of Bentinck and junior
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) recorded 15 and 11 points respectively to help the Knights earn an 81-79 victory over the Wildcats Sunday afternoon.
With the win the Knights improve to 6-4 overall and even ECC play at 2-2 to conclude the 2023 portion of their conference schedule.
Sunday's victory earned Queens their second victory over the Wildcats in two seasons and their first home victory since the 2015-2016 season ending a six-game losing streak inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium
On the year the Knights improved their record to 2-1 in games to go overtime and earn their first overtime victory in ECC play since the 2021-2022 season when Queens defeated Molloy on December 15, 2021.
Match Recap
It would be a back-and-forth affair to start the game before the Wildcats went on an 8-2 run to take a 12-7 lead at the 14:29 mark.
Bentinck would record just his second career three-pointer at the 13:25 mark to stop the scoreless drought for the Knights as Queens got within two, 12-10 before Daemen extended their lead back to five, 15-10 with a deep shot of their own.
Diamond would lead the early comeback with a solo run of seven straight points as Queens tied the game at 17-17 at the 11:15 mark before two made free throws from junior
Zyeir Lawrence (Oneonta, N.Y.) helped the Knights take a 19-17 lead at the 10:40 mark as the home side went on a 9-2 run from the 12:46 mark to the 10:40 mark.
But the Wildcats would respond back with a 5-0 run to take a 22-19 lead before Chester and Diamond led the Knights on a 9-0 run from the 9:14 mark to the 6:41 mark as Queens took a 28-22 lead.
As the Wildcats answered back with a 9-2 run to take a 31-30 lead, Queens would end the first half on an 8-4 run as they took a 38-35 lead heading into the locker rooms.
Daemen would waste no time tying the game at 38-38 to open the scoring in the second half before the Knights responded with a 6-0 run to take a 44-38 lead with 17:36 left.
The Wildcats would continue to trim the home side advantage down, but with the Knights leading 46-45 with 14:40 to go, the Knights would take a nine point lead of 54-45 (their largest of the game).
As Queens continued to stay ahead, Daemen would slowly start to cut into the advantage before taking a 70-67 lead with 1:35 to go.
Trailing by three, with 1:24 to go, Diamond would go 1-of-2 at the line before the home side was able to gather the offensive rebound allowing Lawrence to tie the game at 70-70 with 1:06 to go.
Both sides would come up empty on their next possession before a foul put Daemen at the free throw line and they would successfully convert both at the line to take a 72-70 lead with 13 seconds to go in the game.
However Diamond would tie the game at 72-72 with a layup with six seconds to go before the Wildcats missed a three-pointer to send the game into overtime.
Playing in their third overtime game of the year, Bentinck and Diamond would lead the Knights in scoring as they opened overtime with a 5-2 run to take a 77-74 with 2:51 to go in the game.
Leading by three, 77-74, free throws would help the Wildcats tie the game at 77-77 as they went 3-of-4 at the line before Bentinck tallied three straight points to put the Knights up 80-77 with 59 seconds to go.
Once again two made free throws from the Wildcats would cut the Knights' lead down to one, 80-79 before Bentinck went 1-of-2 at the line to extend the lead back to two, 81-79 with 4.2 seconds to go.
As the senior missed the second free throw, the Wildcats were unable to take a shot as the game clock expired to give the Knights an 81-79 victory Sunday afternoon.
By the Numbers
- Diamond led the offense with his second double-double of the year and first in ECC play with a season-best 33 points (10-of-23 FG, 4-of-9 3PT, 9-of-14 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
- Bentinck recorded 15 points (6-of-12 FG, 1-of-2 3PT, 2-of-4 FT) to go with six rebounds, two assists and one steal.
- Chester recorded in double-figures for the third straight game with 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal off the bench.
- Lawrence tallied eight points, recorded a career-best eight rebounds, and tied a career-high two blocks in the win.
- It was another all-round performance for junior Dante Griffin (Utica, N.Y.) who tallied eight points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
- As a team, the Knights shot 38.9% going 28-of-72 from the field, while the Wildcats shot 39.0% on 23-of-59 shooting.
- Queens held a 44-42 rebounds margin with a 22-12 edge on second-chance points.
- The Knights forced 14 Wildcats turnovers for 12 points.
- In overtime, the Knights held Daemen to one made field on 20.0% shooting.
Next Game
The Knights conclude the four-game homestand on Wednesday (Dec. 13) evening as they welcome the Wilmington University Wildcats to Fitzgerald Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 7:30 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).
