STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Heading into their East Coast Conference finale against the College of Staten Island Dolphins Saturday afternoon, the Queens College men's basketball team needed a victory to clinch a home playoff game.
With their backs against the wall and trailing by as much as 25 points in the first half, four Knights would lead the comeback attempt led by senior forward
Damiri Lindo (Oakland, CA.) recording 25 points, senior guard
Shamar Chester (Queens, N.Y.) 13 points, senior guard
Nasan Ayala (LeFrak City, N.Y.) with 11 points and rookie guard
Tyler Michel (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) chipping in with 10 points as the Knights erased the deficit before Lindo hit the game-winner as Queens earned a 77-75 victory over the Dolphins inside The Tank.
The Knights improve to 12-16 overall and 8-8 in ECC play. With their Saturday victory over the Dolphins, the Knights earned their first ECC series sweep over the Dolphins.
With a conference record of 8-8, head coach
Matt Collier and the Knights have clinched the #3 seed to the ECC Men's Basketball Tournament. More details to follow on Sunday afternoon.
GAME RECAP
It was a slow start to the game as the Knights were held to nine points through the first 12 minutes of the game. By the 5:52 mark, Queens would find themselves trailing by as much as 25 points, 37-12 before the Knights flipped the script.
A dunk from junior center
Omari Byrd (Ypsilanti, MI.) at the 5:09 mark would start a 16-2 run to end the stanza. Byrd and Lindo would combine for 11 points in the stretch including the Knights ending the final 3:21 of the half on a 10-0 run, while holding the Dolphins to 0-of-4 from the field and forcing two turnovers.
The Knights would go into the locker rooms trailing by 11, 39-28.
Looking to keep the momentum going, the Knights opened the second half on a 7-4 run with Ayala, Lindo, and Michel combining for seven points as Queens got within single digits, 43-35 by the 16:50 mark.
For every basket the Dolphins used to extend their lead back to double digits, Queens would continue to have an answer.
As Staten Island extended their lead back to 11 points, 51-40 by the 13:21 mark, Michel would lead the charge with six straight points as the Knights used an 11-3 run to get within three, 54-51 by the 10:13 mark.
The Dolphins would make it a two-possession game by the 9:00 mark as they took a 58-53 lead before two made free throws from Lindo and a layup from Chester got the Knights within one, 58-57 at the 8:05 mark.
After a block from Chester, Lindo on the fastbreak would give Queens their first lead of the game to the score of 59-58 by the 7:42 mark.
Having spent over 30 minutes trailing in the game, the Knights who had now shifted the momentum would battle with the Dolphins in shot for shot.
As Queens went into a quick slump and the Dolphins taking a six-point edge of 67-61 with 5:00 left to play Michel would lead the charge by converting two free throws to start a 12-4 with Chester capping off the run with a three-pointer to put Queens' back up by two, 73-71 by the 1:40 mark.
The Dolphins wasted little time in tying the game with a dunk at the 1:21 mark before two made free throws from Lindo at the 54 seconds mark put the Knights back up by two, 75-73 before the home side tied the game in their next possession to make it 75-75 at the 42 seconds mark.
Queens would put the ball in the hands of Chester as the Knights looked to cut as much time as possible. But just as Chester was double-teamed in the paint, a quick pass to Lindo would see the Oakland native convert a step-back jumper past two defenders as the Knights reclaimed the lead for good for a 77-75 advantage with 14 seconds left in the game.
Needing to defend the final 14 seconds, Ayala would make a key block as the Knights erased a 25-point deficit to earn a thrilling 77-75 victory and earn the #3 seed.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Lindo led the way with a game-high 25 points including a perfect 9-of-9 at the charity stripe to go with three rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal.
- The Oakland native recorded 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting in the second half.
- Chester recorded 13 points, two rebounds, one block, and one steal.
- The Queens native recorded 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting with two made three-pointers in the second half.
- Michel recorded his 10 points in the second half on 4-of-7 shooting to go with four rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
- Ayala notched 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block in the contest.
- Byrd recorded eight points on 4-of-4 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and two blocks.
- In 10 minutes of action, rookie guard Sekou Kourouma (Manhattan, N.Y.) recorded seven points on 3-of-5 shooting with one made three-pointer to help lead the comeback victory.
NEXT TIP-OFF
The Knights now set their eyes on the ECC Postseason Tournament. More Details to follow.
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).
