FLUSHING, N.Y. – Opening a two-game homestand the Queens College men's basketball team welcomed regionally-ranked #4 Eagles of Post University to Fitzgerald Gymnasium in non-conference play.
The senior duo of guard
Nasan Ayala (LeFrak City, N.Y.) and forward
Damiri Lindo (Oakland, CA) combined for 23 points but the Knights facing a first-half deficit were unable to complete the comeback as they fell to the final score of 84-63 Tuesday evening.
GAME RECAP
Both teams combined to miss the first five shots of the game before the Eagles opened the scoring for a 5-0 lead before a three-pointer from junior guard
Jade Tse (Queens, N.Y.) got Queens on the board at the 17:14 mark.
As the Knights continued to turn the ball over, the visitors would take a 9-3 before a three-pointer at the 14:28 mark from junior guard
Eric Tynes (Springfield, MA) would help Queens start a 10-4 run as the Knights tied the game at 13-13 behind another long-distance shot from senior guard
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) at the 11:27 mark.
But the Eagles would respond with a 13-0 run from the 11:01 mark to the 8:01 mark to take a 26-13 lead as the Knights committed three turnovers and went 0-of-4 from the field.
Trailing by 13, Lindo would break the scoreless drought as the senior forward went on a personal run of 10 straight points for Queens in a 10-5 run for the Knights as the home side was able to cut their deficit down to eight points, 31-23 by the 4:39 mark.
However, with the Eagles using a full-court press the visitors would end the first half on a 16-4 run as they took a 47-27 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.
In the second half, Queens would go toe-to-toe with the Eagles but the first-half shooting woes would hurt the Knights as they dropped the non-conference matchup Tuesday evening.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Ayala led the offense with a team-high 13 points to go with four assists, two rebounds and one steal.
- Lindo recorded 10 points (4-of-8 FG | 2-of-4 3PT) to go with two rebounds and one assist.
- Rookie Sekou Kourouma (Manhattan, N.Y.) recorded a career-best eight points (3-of-3 FG | 2-of-2 3PT) to go with two rebounds, and one steal in 11 minutes off the bench.
- Senior guard Jayden Seraphin (Lakeview, N.Y.) notched six points, a team-high seven rebounds and one block.
- Senior center Omar Nkonde (Harlem, N.Y.) tallied six points (2-of-3 FG | 2-of-2 FT) to go with a team-high three blocks, three rebounds, one steal, and one assist.
- As a team Queens were held to 19-of-56 from the field (33.9%), 10-of-24 from distance (41.7%), and 15-of-22 at the free throw line (68.2%).
- The 10 made three-pointers on a 41.7 shooting % is a season-high effort for the Knights.
NEXT TIP-OFF
The Knights conclude the homestand on Sunday, Dec. 1 as they welcome the Lions of Georgian Court University to town. Tip-off is set for 11:00 a.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).
