CALDWELL, N.J. – Opening the week in non-conference play in Caldwell, New Jersey the Queens College men's basketball team matched up against regionally-ranked #7 Caldwell University Cougars inside the George R. Newman Center.
Led by a career-high 24 points from senior guard
Nasan Ayala (LeFrak City, N.Y.) including 18 of the Knights' 37 points in the second half, the Knights who had rallied back from a first-half deficit of 13 points would be dealt a heartbreaking loss to the final score of 61-58 Tuesday evening.
GAME RECAP
Queens opened the game taking an early 5-3 lead before the Cougars responded with a 9-0 run to take a 12-8 advantage by the 14:46 mark.
A three-pointer from Ayala would break the scoring drought for the Knights at the 13:53 mark before a tipin from rookie center
Amari Cribb (Bronx, N.Y.) got Queens within two, 12-10 at the 13:12 mark.
Both teams would continue to trade buckets over the next five minutes of play including a jumper from junior guard
Jade Tse (Queens, N.Y.) to get Queens within one, 18-17 at the 10:19 mark.
But over the final 9:28 minutes of play of the first half, the Knights were held to one made field goal and committed seven turnovers as they found themselves trailing by 13 points to the score 34-21 at halftime.
As the Cougars opened the scoring to take a 36-21 lead, Queens would start their comeback attempt with Ayala and senior forward
Damiri Lindo (Oakland, CA) combining with back-to-back buckets to get within 11, 36-25 at the 18:19 mark.
As Queens continued to keep Caldwell off the scoreboard, a layup from Lindo would get Queens within nine, 27-26 at the 17:25 mark.
With Ayala leading the offense, Queens would keep their deficit at nine points, 42-33 by the 15:50 mark. But a 5-0 run from the Cougars would see them take a 47-33 lead by the 14:31 mark forcing a Knights timeout.
Out of the timeout, Ayala and senior guard
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) would connect at the free throw line to get within 12, 49-37 by the 13:18 mark.
As both teams went into a three-minute scoring drought Tse would break the scoreless drought for the Knights as he converted at the charity stripe to get Queens within 10, 49-39 at the 10:17 mark.
Senior center
Omar Nkonde (Harlem, N.Y.) would lead the way on the defensive end with four rebounds and three blocks as Queens got within by five, 51-46 by the 7:14 mark with junior forward
Jaden Pena (Brooklyn, N.Y.) connecting from deep.
As Caldwell finally broke their scoring drought to extend their lead back to six, 54-48, Ayala with the hot hand would lead the way with seven straight points to get the Knights within one 54-53 by the 4:39 mark.
Queens would finally reclaim the lead behind an Ayala layup at the 4:00 minute mark as the Knights took a slim lead of 55-54 as they had put together a 16-3 run with Ayala recording nine points in the run.
The Cougars would retake the lead at the 2:56 mark before the LeFrak City native tied the game at 56-56 with 2:40 left in the contest.
But the home side would retake the lead behind a three-pointer for a 59-56 lead at the 2:14 mark before a Tse's layup for Queens within one, 59-58 with 1:20 left in the game.
However, it would be missed opportunities for the Knights in the final minute of the game as the comeback rally fell short to the final score of 61-58.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Ayala led the way with a career-and-game-high 24 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
- Tse recorded nine points, five assists, two steals, and one rebound.
- Pena tallied seven points, six rebounds, and three steals.
- Nkonde recorded four points, five rebounds, and three blocks.
- In the second half, Queens shot 45.8% from the field and held Caldwell to 31.0% from the field, and forced eight turnovers in their comeback attempt.
NEXT TIP-OFF
The Knights conclude the road trip in Rochester, N.Y. on Friday, Dec. 13 as they match up against the Redhawks of Roberts Wesleyan University in East Coast Conference play. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m.
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