WASHINGTON, DC – Trailing by 12 points to begin the second half, the Queens College men's basketball team opened the second half on a 31-9 run as they shot 60.0% from the field to defeat the Firebirds of the University of the District of Columbia Wednesday evening in East Coast Conference play.
Five Knights scored in double-figures led by a season-best 21 points from senior guard
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.), senior forward
Damiri Lindo (Oakland, CA.) tallied 15 points, a career-high 12 points from rookie guard
Tyler Michel (Cambria Heights, N.Y.), while the senior duo of forward
Jayden Seraphin (Lakeview, N.Y.) and center
Omar Nkonde (Harlem, N.Y.) combined for 20 points and 25 rebounds to lead the Knights to a 78-68 victory over the Firebirds.
The Knights improve to 11-16 overall and 7-8 in ECC play. Wednesday's victory keeps the Knights in a tie for third place with one game to go. Wednesday's win also earned Queens their first road victory in the nation's capital since the 2016-2017 season when the Knights earned a 91-85 victory on January 28, 2017.
GAME RECAP
It was a slow start to the game as the Knights fell behind 7-2 by the 17:08 mark before Queens went on a 9-4 run to tie the game at 11-11 by the 12:32 mark.
With the game tied at 15-15, the Firebirds used a 7-2 run to take a 22-17 lead by the 8:15 mark.
Queens would continue to keep their deficit in single digits as they were able to get within one, 28-27 by the 3:58 mark.
But the Firebirds would end the first half on a 13-2 run as they took a 12-point lead of 41-29 into the locker rooms.
Looking to break the shackles, the Knights would begin the second half on a scoring surge as they went on a 15-4 run as they shot 66.7% from the field to get within one, 45-44 by the under-16 media out. The Firebirds were held to 1-3 from the field to go with four turnovers.
Out of the timeout, the Knights continued the scoring run with four quick points to take a 48-45 lead.
The Firebirds answered with a 5-0 run to retake the lead for a 50-48 advantage by the 13:27 mark.
However, the lead would be short-lived as Nkone started a 12-0 run with four straight points before the trio of Michel, Chester, and junior guard
Eric Tynes (Springfield, MA.) chipped in with eight quick points including back-to-back three-pointers from Chester and Tynes as Queens took a lead of 60-50 by the 11:26 mark forcing a UDC timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Knights would continue to hold the Firebirds scoreless as the duo of junior center
Omari Byrd (Ypsilanti, MI.) and Seraphin put the Knights up by 13, 63-50 with 10:26 to go.
The Firebirds would attempt to rally as they were able to get within seven, 68-61 by the 6:41 mark, but the trio of Chester, Michel, and Lindo would put Queens back by 11, 74-63 by the 4:05 mark, a lead they would not surrender to earn a key ECC victory and keep pace in the race for a top four ECC finish.
BY THE NUMBERS
- In an all-around effort as he recorded 39 minutes of action Chester tallied a season-high 21 points to go eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals.
- Lindo recorded 15 points, four rebounds, and five assists.
- It would be a career day for Michel who notched a career-best 12 points on six made field goals to go with three assists and two steals.
- Seraphin recorded his first double-double of the year with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go with 10 rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal.
- Nkonde recorded his second double-double of the year with 10 points, a career-best 15 rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal in the victory.
- Byrd tallied five points and eight rebounds off the bench.
- Tynes recorded five points, one rebound and one assist off the bench.
NEXT TIP-OFF
The regular season concludes in Staten Island, N.Y. on Saturday, Mar. 1 as the Knights match up against the College of Staten Island. Tip-off is set for 3:00 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).
