Tuesday, December 30, 2003

#7 QUEENS HOLDS OFF LATE BLUE HOSE CHARGE
 FOR 89-84 VICTORY
Royals’ backcourt of Ross & Timmons combine for 48 points in win

CLINTON, S.C. — Queens University senior guard Spencer Ross (Chesapeake, Va.) tallied a game-high 25 points to lead the #7-ranked Royals to a 89-84 win over Presbyterian College in men’s basketball action Tuesday night at the Ross E. Templeton Center. 

Ross hit 18-of-20 free throws on the night including six-of-eight in the final three minutes to hold off a late Blue Hose rally. The Royals led by as many as 19 points (80-61) in the second half, but PC used a 21-9 run in the last five minutes to cut the lead to four points with eight seconds left. Queens’ sophomore forward Kendrick Harris (Greenville, N.C.) hit one-of-four free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.

The win improves the #7-ranked Royals to 6-1 on the season and they avenge their only loss of the year, a 54-51 setback to the Blue Hose back on December 6 in the championship game of the Sodexho Classic. Presbyterian falls to 7-4 on the season has their five-game win streak snapped.

The game opened with Queens going on a 11-1 run highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from junior guard B.J. Thomas (Rockingham, N.C.). PC responded with a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 11-10 with 12:54 remaining. The Royals continued their hot shooting from the field and extended the lead to 16 points on two occasions, the last coming at 39-23 with 3:24 remaining before halftime. PC outscored Queens 8-3 to end the first half to trim the lead to 43-31 entering intermission.

Queens shot 53.8% from the field including six-of-11 from beyond the arc while holding a 20-8 rebound advantage in the first half. PC struggled from the floor, shooting 36.8% from the field.

Timmons added 23 points and four assists for the Royals while Harris came off the bench to add 15 points and 11 rebounds as Queens won the battle of the boards 34-25 on the night.

PC was led by sophomore forward Michael Drum (Rural Hall, N.C.) who tallied a career-high 24 points on seven-of-10 shooting from the free throw line. Sophomore center Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.) added a career-high 17 points with four rebounds for the Blue Hose. Collins scored eight of his 17 points during the second half Blue Hose comeback.

The Blue Hose return to action on Saturday, January 3rd as they host USC Spartanburg at 4:00 pm. The Royals return to action on Saturday as well when they travel to Winston-Salem, N.C. to take on Winston-Salem State University at 4:00 pm.