FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing the season-high four-game homestand, the Queens College men's basketball team welcomed the Saints of D'Youville University to town in East Coast Conference play Friday evening inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
Match Recap
For the second straight ECC game, the Knights came out sluggish as they fell behind 15-0 as they were held scoreless until the 14:10 mark before a dunk from junior
Omar Nkonde (Harlem, N.Y.) put Queens on the board.
As the Saints extended their lead back to 15, 17-2 with 12:44 to go, junior
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) would record seven straight points in a 9-0 run from 12:23 to 10:46 as the Knights cut their deficit down to six, 17-11.
With Queens still searching for an offensive rhythm, the Saints would extend their lead back to double-digits of 14, 31-17 with 5:38 to go in the first half.
Looking to answer back, a three-pointer from senior
Sunnie Diamond (Atlanta, GA) would help the Knights end the first half on an 18-11 run as Queens went into halftime trailing 42-35.
The Saints opened the scoring in the second half to extend their lead back to nine points, 44-35 at the 19:38 mark before Queens went on a 11-2 run from the 19:24 mark to the 14:52 mark to the game at 46-46.
The second half of the game would see three ties and six lead changes as both teams exchanged buckets.
A quickfire eight points from sophomore
Eric Tynes (Springfield, MA.) would help the Knights tie the game at 64-64 with 6:28 to go before a 9-2 run from the Saints saw them take a 73-66 lead with 2:53 to go in the game.
Trialing by seven, Queens would attempt to cut into the deficit using a 6-3 run including a 4-of-4 trip at the free throw line as the Knights got within four, 76-72 with 1:06 to go.
A key from steal and layup from junior
Dante Griffin (Utica, N.Y.) on a Saint's inbound pass would help Queens get within two, 76-74 with 57 seconds to go, however, it would be the closest the Knights would get within of a comeback as the Saints took the first meeting of the season to the final score of 82-77 Friday evening.
By the Numbers
- For the second straight game, Chester led the Knights in scoring with a team-high 18 points (3-of-7 FG, 12-of-12 FT) to go with eight rebounds and two assists.
- The 12 made free throws and eight rebounds are a career-best for the Queens native.
- Senior Malik Bentinck (Queens, N.Y) tallied 13 points (6-of-11 FG), six rebounds, and two blocks.
- Junior Zyeir Lawrence (Oneonta, N.Y.) tied a season-best of 12 points (6-of-10 FG) and six rebounds to go with one block.
- Diamond tallied nine points, a team-high six assists, five rebounds, and one block.
- In 14 points of action off the bench, Tynes recorded eight points (3-of-7 FG, 2-of-4 3PT) on the evening.
- As a team, the Knights shot 43.1% going 28-of-65 from the field, while the Saints shot 47.5% on 28-of-59 shooting.
- Both teams recorded 38 rebounds with Queens holding a slim edge of 12-10 on second-chance points.
- Free throw shooting would derail the Knights as they shot 69.2% going 18-of-26 at the line, while the Saints shot 78.6% on 22-of-28 at the line.
Next Game
The Knights continue ECC play on Sunday (Dec. 8) afternoon as they welcome regionally ranked #7 Daemen University Wildcats to Fitzgerald Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 1:00 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).
