COLCHESTER, VT – Continuing non-conference play with a trip to Colchester, Vermont, the Queens College men's basketball team matched up against the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College inside the Ross Sports Center Tuesday evening.
Senior guard
Nasan Ayala (LeFrak City, N.Y.) notched a career-high 16 points to lead the Knights' offense, but with the team trailing by one, and 10 seconds left Queens would get a good look for the game-winner, however, the Purple Knights defense would defend the final seconds as Queens fell short to drop the non-conference contest to the final score of 57-56.
GAME RECAP
It would be a back-and-forth game as both teams opened the game trading buckets and with the Knights trailing 6-5, Queens would take a 10-5 lead behind a three-pointer from senior guard
Jayden Seraphin (Lakeview, N.Y.) and two made free throws from junior center
Omari Byrd (Ypsilanti, MI) at the 16:30 mark.
With the game tied at 15-15 at the 11:10 mark, rookie guard
Tyler Michel's (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) three-pointer at the 10:52 mark would start a 12-5 run for the Knights with Ayala notching five points in the run as Queens took a 27-20 lead by the 6:09 mark.
But as the Knights went cold over the next four minutes of play, the home side would end the final 5:23 of the first half on a 9-2 run, however, Queens would take a 30-29 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.
Saint Michael's opened the second half on a 7-0 run as they took a 36-30 lead at the 17:55 mark.
Queens would get on the board at the 17:32 mark behind a jumper from junior guard
Eric Tynes (Springfield, MA) before a layup from senior forward
Damiri Lindo (Oakland, CA) got the Knights within four, 38-34 at the 16:38 mark.
By the 10:52 mark, the Purple Knights took the largest lead of the game of eight points, 44-36 before the visiting Knights led by the trio of Ayala, senior guard
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) and Lindo put together a 13-2 run from the 9:29 mark to the 3:51 mark with Ayala and Chester combining for eight points and Lindo recording five points.
As two made free throws from Chester brought Queens within one, 46-45 by the 6:25 mark, Ayala on the fast break would give the Knights a 47-46 lead at the 5:46 mark.
With Queens continuing to hold Saint Michael's without a made field goal since the 10:52 mark, a jumper from Lindo would put the Knights up by three, 49-46 at the 3:51 mark.
But with the Knights in foul trouble, the home side would use the charity stripe to get back into the game. Following two made free throws from the Purple Knights at the 3:12 mark saw them get within one, 49-48, Byrd would go 1-of-2 at the line to put Queens' back up by one, 50-48 at the 2:49 mark.
Ayala would cause a turnover on the defensive end with his fourth steal of the game before the senior guard's layup put Queens up by four, 52-48 with 2:21 left in the game.
Saint Michael's would use a three-point play to get within one, 52-51 before a jumper from junior guard
Jade Tse (Queens, N.Y.) helped Queens extend their lead back to three, 54-51 at the 1:38 mark.
As the Purple Knights missed an initial three to tie the game, a second chance opportunity would see them tie the game at 54-54 with 58 seconds left in the game.
But Queens would waste no time in scoring as a layup from Lindo helped Queens reclaim a two-point lead of 56-54 at the 46 second mark.
In a one-possession game, the Purple Knights would go 1-of-2 at the free throw as Byrd collected his 10
th rebound of the game on the missed free throw.
But as the Purple Knights quickly fouled to stop the clock, the Knights missed their opportunity to extend their lead before the home side converted two free throws to take a 57-56 lead with 10 seconds left in the game.
In a game that saw nine lead changes and eight ties, Queens would have the final possession and be in a position to win the game, but the visitors would defend the final 10 seconds as they denied the Knights game-winning bucket to hold onto a 57-56 victory over Queens.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Ayala recorded a career-best 16 points to go with four steals, four rebounds and two assists.
- Lindo tallied nine points, two rebounds, and two assists.
- Tse tallied seven points, five assists, four steals, and three rebounds.
- Byrd notched three points, a career-high 10 rebounds and two blocks.
NEXT TIP-OFF
The Knights return to Flushing on Saturday, Dec. 7 as they open East Coast Conference play by welcoming Molloy University Lions. Tip-off is set for 3:00 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).
