FLUSHING, N.Y. – On Saturday afternoon head coach
Matt Collier and the Queens College men's basketball team honored their five graduating seniors before their East Coast Conference contest against the visiting Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas College inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
The Knights honored Team Manager Emily Stewart, guard
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.), forward senior
Jayden Seraphin (Lakeview, N.Y.), center
Omar Nkonde (Harlem, N.Y.), guard
Nasan Ayala (LeFrak City, N.Y.) and forward
Damiri Lindo (Oakland, CA.) for their dedication to Queens College and the men's basketball program.
The Knights trailing by as much as 18 points in the second half would rally back to get within three points with 1:11 left in the contest, but the Spartans would spoil Senior Day for the Knights as Queens fell to the final score of 75-68.
The Knights move to 10-16 overall and 6-8 in ECC play. The 6-8 conference record puts the Knights in a three-way tie with Roberts Wesleyan and College of Staten Island. All three teams have two games left to play on their slate including the Knights regular season finale at CSI on Saturday, Mar. 1. Currently Queens holds the tiebreaker over Roberts having completed the series sweep.
GAME RECAP
It was a slow start for the Knights to begin the game as they fell behind to the score of 12-2 by the 15:22 mark forcing an early timeout.
Out of the timeout, senior guard
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) would record four quick points before a jumper from senior guard
Jade Tse (Queens, N.Y.) got the Knights within five, 13-8 with 13:48 to go.
Just as the Spartans extended their lead back to nine points, 17-8, Queens would put together a 9-2 run to get within two, 19-17 with 6:59 to go.
However just as the Knights got within two, the Spartans would end the final 6:43 of the first half on a 18-2 run as they took a 37-19 lead into the locker rooms.
The Spartans would continue to have an answer for every Knight basket as they kept their 18-point lead intact.
By the 5:14 mark, the Knights trailing by 13, 63-50 would put together one last comeback rally.
Led by the duo of Chester and senior forward
Damiri Lindo (Oakland, CA.), the senior pair combined for 10 points in a 10-3 run to get within six, 66-60 by the 3:01 mark.
Just as the Spartans responded by extending to make the game more than one possession, the duo of Chester and Lindo responded by connecting at the free throw line to get the home side within three, 69-66 by the 1:11 mark.
However as the Knights turned a double-digit deficit into an one possession ball game, the Spartans' early advantage would help them keep their lead intact before they converted free throws to defeat the Knights on Senior Day.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Chester recorded a team-high 16 points, four steals, four rebounds, two assists, and one block.
- Lindo recorded 14 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
- Senior guard Nasan Ayala (LeFrak City, N.Y.) notched 12 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one steal.
- Junior forward Jaden Pena (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded 11 points, four rebounds, three blocks and two assists in the contest.
NEXT TIP-OFF
It's a two-game road trip to conclude the regular season as the Knights head to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Feb. 26 as they match up against the Firebirds of the University of the District of Columbia. Tip-off is set for 7:45 pm.
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).
