CHARLOTTE, NC--The Queens University of Charlotte men's
basketball team snapped its three-game skid with an 83-77 win over
visiting Lees-McRae on Thursday night at Ovens Athletic Center, but
the win wasn't easy for the Royals. Queens (14-6, 9-4 Conference
Carolinas) gave up 51 first-half points by allowing the Bobcats to
shoot 60.6% from the floor, and Lees-McRae (4-17, 3-12 Conference
Carolinas) held a 51-46 advantage at the intermission.
The Royals tried various substitutions in the first half,
looking for anyone to spark a defensive focus. Unfortunately for
the Royals, no one was able to get the ship righted. Queens
eventually found a formula to slow the Lees-McRae attack in the
second half, as the Royals forced contested jumpers and sophomore
John Thompson (West Columbia, SC) corralled one rebound after
another. On the offensive end, Thompson ignited the Royals' offense
in the second stanza, and he finished the night with 26 points and
15 rebounds.
Lamont King and Jeff Hefner well as junior Andre Lockhart, offered
tough and consistent performances. King finished with 15 points
and 6 boards, Hefner with 9 points and 12 rebounds, and Lockhart
with 10 points to aid Thompson in the Royals' attack.
Lees-McRae placed three players in double figures led by Aaron
Woodacre's (Piney Flats, TN) 21 points. Raysean
Hairston (Elizabethtown, NC) and Aaron
Willey (Kingsport, TN) scored 19 and 14 respectively for the
Bobcats.
The Bobcats will resume Conference Carolinas action this weekend
when they travel to Mount Olive Saturday afternoon to take on the
Trojans.
BOX
SCORE
PICTURED: Aaron Woodacre
