FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing their homestand, the Queens College men's basketball team welcomed the Roberts Wesleyan University Redhawks to Fitzgerald Gymnasium for an East Coast Conference matchup on Sunday evening.
Four Knights scored in double figures, led by rookie forward
Henri Mennander (Helsinki, Finland), who recorded his third career double-double with a team-high 17 points and 14 rebounds. Junior guard
Johnny Jones (Bronx, N.Y.) added 15 points, junior guard
Dontae Prescott (Coney Island, N.Y.) chipped in 14 points, and sophomore guard
Lleyton Fried (Harrisburg, PA) scored a career-best 13 points. In a contest that featured seven ties and one lead change, Queens held off a late Redhawks surge. A decisive 6–1 run down the stretch, sparked by Fried and junior forward
Ahmad Galimore (Bronx, N.Y.), would help Queens outlast Roberts Wesleyan and seal a 92-86 victory.
With the victory, Queens earned their third overall win of the year and first ECC victory of the year.
GAME RECAP
Roberts Wesleyan opened the contest with a 7–4 lead at the 17:29 mark, but Queens responded with a 7–4 run behind Fried and Mennander to tie the game at 11–11 with 14:03 remaining in the first half.
The two teams traded baskets over the next six minutes, with neither side able to establish control.
With the score tied at 21–21, junior guard
Williams Guzman (Corona, N.Y.) converted a pair of free throws at the 8:34 mark to ignite a 9–3 run that gave Queens a 30–24 advantage with six minutes remaining.
The Redhawks answered quickly with a 6–0 run to even the score at 30–30 with 5:06 left.
Queens closed the half strong, as Prescott scored eight points during a 14–5 run to send the Knights into the break leading 44–35.
Queens carried that momentum into the second half, opening on a 12–4 run over the first five minutes. Rookie forward
Jawuan Smith (Mastic, N.Y.) contributed five points as the Knights built a lead of 56–39.
After Roberts Wesleyan attempted to chip away, sophomore guard
Tyler Michel (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) scored six straight points to keep Queens firmly in front. A Jones three-pointer extended the lead to 17, 68–51, with 10:52 remaining.
The Redhawks responded with a 12–0 run to pull within five, 68–63, at the 9:11 mark.
Mennander steadied the Knights during the surge, helping Queens maintain its advantage.
Another Jones triple pushed the lead to 76–67 with 6:17 to play, but Roberts Wesleyan answered with back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to three, 76–73.
A Mennander steal followed by a Jones layup sparked a 7–4 run that extended the lead to 83–77 with 4:08 remaining. The Redhawks were not finished, using an 8–3 run to pull within one, 86–85, with 1:39 to play.
Queens closed the game with poise. A Galimore layup at the 1:21 mark ignited the final 6–1 run, with Fried scoring three of those points while the Knights' defense held Roberts Wesleyan scoreless to secure the 92–86 ECC victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Mennander recorded his third career double-double and second in ECC play, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds, three blocks, one assist, and one steal.
- Jones followed with 15 points, knocking down three three-pointers while adding four assists, two rebounds, one block, and one steal.
- Prescott contributed 14 points while filling the stat sheet with three steals, two rebounds, two assists, and one block.
- Fried rounded out the Knights in double figures with a career-best 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing out two assists to go with one steal.
NEXT GAME
The Knights conclude their homestand on Wednesday, December 17, as they welcome Pace University Setters to town for a non-conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 6:00 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 Athletics Main Account (@QCKnights), Queens College MBB (QCKnightsMBB) and Instagram (qcknightsny), men's basketball (qcmensbball).
