FLUSHING, N.Y. – Looking to end a three-game slide senior guard
Nasan Ayala (LeFrak City, N.Y.) paced the Queens College men's basketball team with a team-high 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting against the Firebirds of the University of the District of Columbia inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium Wednesday evening.
In a game that featured five ties and 11 lead changes, the Knights would fall short to the final score of 63-61 in East Coast Conference play.
The ECC loss moves the Knights to 3-4 in conference play and into sixth play in the postseason race.
GAME RECAP
The Knights would open the scoring behind two made free throws from senior guard
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) before the Firebirds went on a 9-0 run from the 19:05 mark to the 17:01 to take a 9-2 forcing a Knights timeout.
Using the break in momentum Queens would start a 11-3 run with senior guard
Jayden Seraphin (Lakeview, N.Y.) recording five points in the run as Queens took a 13-12 lead by the 10:51 mark.
As the Firebirds reclaimed a slim lead of 15-13 on the next possession, Queens responded with a 9-0 run with junior guard
Jade Tse (Queens, N.Y.) connecting from deep combined with junior guard
Eric Tynes (Springfield, Mass.) connected at the charity stripe before Ayala recorded four straight points as Queens took a 22-15 lead with 8:30 left until halftime.
The Knights would continue to keep a lead of seven points or higher for the remainder of the first half as they took a 33-26 advantage into the second half.
It would be all visitors in the opening 2:30 of the second half as they opened on an 8-0 run to take a 34-33 lead by the 17:31 mark.
As a second chance opportunity from senior center
Omar Nkonde (Harlem, N.Y.) broke the Knights' scoreless drought at the 16:17 mark, both sides would trade buckets from the 16:17 mark to the 15:07 mark with the Firebirds leading by one, 41-40.
With the Firebirds leading 43-40 at the 14:07 mark, a turnaround jumper from Tynes at the 13:09 mark would help Queens start an 8-0 run as the Knights took a 48-43 lead by the 10:10 mark.
As UDC got within four, 48-44 at the 9:28 mark, a layup from Ayala would start an 11-4 run as Queens took an 11-point lead of 59-48 with 6:23 to go in the contest.
But over the final 6:23 of the contest, Queens would commit seven costly turnovers and were held to 1-of-3 for the field as the Firebirds went on a 15-3 run to defeat Queens and take the first meeting of the year.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Ayala paced the Knights' offense with a team-high 14 points of 5-of-10 shooting to go with nine rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
- Chester recorded nine points, three steals, three rebounds, and two assists in the contest.
- Senior forward Damiri Lindo (Oakland, CA.) recorded eight points, five rebounds, two steals, two assists and one block.
NEXT TIP-OFF
The Knights conclude the first half of the ECC slate on Saturday, Jan. 25 as they welcome the Dolphins of College of Staten Island to town. The Dolphins enter Flushing with an overall record of 8-11 and 4-3 in ECC play as they are coming off an 87-77 victory over Molloy University at home. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.
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