FLUSHING, N.Y. – Concluding their homestand Sunday afternoon, the Queens College men's basketball team welcomed the Saints of D'Youville University to Fitzgerald Gymnasium for East Coast Conference (ECC) action.
Three Knights scored in double figures, led by senior forward
Tahj-Malik Campbell (Philadelphia, PA), who finished with a team-high 20 points. Junior guard
Dontae Prescott (Coney Island, N.Y.) and sophomore guard
Lleyton Fried (Harrisburg, PA) added 12 and 10 points, respectively, combining for 22 points.
In a tightly contested matchup that featured eight ties and 11 lead changes, Queens erased a four-point deficit late to force overtime. However, a 9–3 run by the Saints in the extra period proved decisive as D'Youville completed the season series sweep with a 79–75 victory.
GAME RECAP
Both teams opened the contest trading baskets before D'Youville used a 13–4 run from the 17:28 mark to 12:46 to take a 16–9 advantage.
Trailing by seven, a jumper from Fried at the 12:31 mark sparked a 15–2 Knights run, as Queens surged ahead 24–18 with 9:54 remaining in the first half.
The Saints responded with a 19–7 run of their own to regain the lead, 37–31, with 2:39 to play.
But Queens would close the half strong, trimming the deficit to three, 40–37, at the break.
Prescott and the Saints exchanged baskets to open the second half, but Queens found itself down seven, 50–43, with 13:29 remaining.
Behind Campbell and Prescott, the Knights answered with a 10–2 run over the next two minutes to reclaim a 53–52 lead at the 11:24 mark.
Campbell continued to deliver timely baskets to keep Queens within striking distance as the Saints pushed the margin back to six.
With D'Youville leading 66–60 at 5:52, a layup from junior forward
Ahmad Galimore (Bronx, N.Y.) and two free throws from Campbell pulled the Knights within two, 66–64, with 4:28 remaining.
After the Saints converted two free throws to extend the lead to 68–64 at the 4:07 mark, Queens held D'Youville scoreless for the remainder of regulation.
Fried snapped a two-minute scoring drought with a layup at 2:24 to make it a two-point game, 68–66.
With time winding down, Galimore knocked down two clutch free throws with 17 seconds remaining to force overtime.
Queens opened the extra frame with a 4–2 run, highlighted by a second-chance bucket from Campbell and a layup by senior forward
Jaden Pena (Brooklyn, N.Y.), giving the Knights a 72–70 lead with 3:17 left. The Saints, however, closed the game on a 9–3 run to secure the 79–75 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Campbell led all Knights with 20 points to go along with nine rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block.
- Prescott finished with 12 points while adding a career-best six steals, four assists, and three rebounds.
- Fried rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
NEXT GAME
The Knights travel to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., on Wednesday, January 21, to face Mercy University in ECC play. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 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).
