FLUSHING, N.Y. – Opening a two-game East Coast Conference (ECC) homestand on Friday evening, the Queens College men's basketball team welcomed nationally ranked No. 2 Daemen University to Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
Three Knights scored in double figures, led by senior forward
Tahj-Malik Campbell (Philadelphia, PA), who recorded his seventh double-double of the season with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard
Ahmad Galimore (Bronx, N.Y.) and rookie forward
Henri Mennander (Helsinki, Finland) added 11 and 10 points, respectively, combining for 21 points in the contest.
Trailing by 12 at halftime, Queens mounted a second-half push behind Campbell and Galimore, who combined for 26 points after the break. However, the comeback effort fell short as the Wildcats secured a 75–67 victory to complete the season-series sweep.
GAME RECAP
Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm early, as the contest was tied 11–11 at the 10:42 mark. The opening 10 minutes featured five lead changes and three ties.
A layup from junior
Williams Guzman (Corona, N.Y.) gave Queens a 13–11 edge with 9:21 remaining before Daemen responded with a 13–0 run to take a 24–13 advantage by the 6:07 mark.
Sophomore guard
Lleyton Fried (Harrisburg, PA) snapped the Knights' scoring drought with a jumper at 5:56, but the Wildcats closed the half on a 14–9 run to take a 38–26 lead into intermission.
Daemen opened the second half with a quick 5–2 run to extend its lead to 15 points, 43–28, at the 18:36 mark.
Led by Campbell and Fried, Queens answered with an 8–2 spurt to cut the deficit to single digits at 45–36 with 16:39 remaining. Despite the push, Daemen maintained a double-digit lead for much of the half.
Over the final 4:47, the Knights pulled within seven points on four separate occasions, but the Wildcats held off the late rally to secure the win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Campbell recorded his seventh double-double with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, adding five assists, a career-best four blocks, and two steals.
- Galimore matched a season high with 11 points, along with three rebounds, one block, and one steal.
- Mennander posted his sixth double-double of the season, and fourth in ECC play, with 10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and one block.
NEXT GAME
The Knights conclude the homestand on Sunday, January 18, as they welcome D'Youville University to Flushing for ECC action. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 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).
