PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The 2025–26 Queens College men's basketball season tipped off Friday evening as the Knights faced the Adelphi University Panthers in the opening game of the ECC x NE10 Conference Challenge, hosted by Pace University at the Goldstein Athletics Center.
Senior forward
Tahj-Malik Campbell (Philadelphia, PA) led the Knights with a game-high 21 points to go along with nine rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. However, Queens entered halftime down 17 and was unable to climb back into the contest, ultimately falling 77–52 in the season opener.
GAME RECAP
It was a slow start for both sides, as neither team connected on a field goal during the first five minutes of play.
With the score knotted at 2–2, sophomore guard
Tyler Michel (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) and freshman forward
Henri Mennander (Helsinki, Finland) sparked an 11–3 run from the 15:00 to the 13:53 mark, giving Queens a 13–5 advantage.
Adelphi quickly countered, using a 12–0 spurt between the 13:45 and 11:06 marks to move ahead 17–14.
A free throw from junior guard
Dontae Prescott (Coney Island, N.Y.) at the 10:36 mark snapped the Knights' scoring drought, and a Prescott layup shortly after pulled Queens within three, 19–16.
However, the Panthers closed the half on a decisive 23–9 run, sending the Knights into the locker room trailing 42–25.
Queens came out of the break with renewed energy, as the trio of Campbell, Mennander, and junior forward
Ahmad Galimore (Bronx, N.Y.) fueled an 11–0 burst from the 19:35 to 17:09 mark to trim the deficit to six, 42–36. The forward group continued to battle, keeping the margin within single digits and cutting it to 50–41 with 13:09 remaining.
But a nearly four-minute scoring drought stalled the comeback effort, allowing Adelphi to rebuild its lead and pull away. The Panthers closed out the contest to hand Queens a 77–52 defeat in Friday's season opener.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Campbell delivered an impressive debut, leading the Knights with 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting while adding nine rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
- Mennander turned in a strong debut performance of his own, totaling nine points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three, along with five rebounds and one block.
- Michel, coming off the bench, added seven points on 2-of-3 shooting, contributing two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
NEXT GAME
The Knights conclude the ECC x NE10 Conference Challenge on Sunday, November 16, when they take on host Pace University. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
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