LAKEWOOD, NJ (Jan. 6, 2024) - Georgian Court Men's Basketball finished up a five-game homestand Saturday afternoon against regional foe, Queens. GCU led for a good portion of the first half, but couldn't hang on in a 83-68 defeat to the Knights.

How it Happened
• Both teams shot well with the Lions connecting at 48% and the Knights at 46%. The Lions were 6-18 from downtown as well with the Knights making 7-23.
• At the free throw line is where there was a big difference. GCU committed twice as many fouls as the Knights and Queens College made 24-32 free throw attempts while the Lions were just 8-11. 
• Rebounding favored Queens in a big way as well, 41-25. They also grabbed 15 offensive boards and scored 11 second-chance points. 
• Georgian Court turned the ball over 17 times and Queens 16.
First Half
• Things were looking good for the Lions out of the gate with layups from Anthony Rivera and Cameron Edmonds and a three from Clint Wright, Jr. putting GCU ahead 7-0 as Queens needed a timeout just 90 seconds in.
• The Knights settled in though, but another three from Wright, Jr. kept the Lion lead at seven, 12-5.
• Georgian Court went cold after that though and didn't score for 5:50, going 0-7 from the floor with three turnovers. Queens went on a 16-0 run and took a 10-point lead, 25-15 with 8:17 to play in the half.
• The Lions didn't get down though. Wright, Jr. ended the drought with a jumper and that spring the Lions to their own 11-0 run. GCU was 5-5 during the scoring spurt with seven coming from Anthony Rivera.
• Tied at 30, Edmonds drove in for a layup to put the Lions back on top, 32-30 with 3:24 to play and that was the last time the Lions led for the game. 
• Queens finished the half on a 9-2 run and at the break were up by five, 39-34.
Second Half
• Early in the second half, GCU cut the Knights lead down to two on multiple occasions. Taheen Braswell-Brown drove in for a layup and with 12:49 to play it was again a one-possession game at 49-47 QC.
• Following that basket though, GCU again went cold, another scoreless drought this one lasting 4:08. 
• Queens took advantage with a 12-0 run going 3-3 from the floor and adding 4-5 at the foul line. 
• Wright, Jr. again was the one to stop the Knights run hitting a three to cut the lead to 61-50 with 8:03 left to play.
• Queens continued to pad their lead though, doing a lot of work from the free throw line. The Knights hit 7-of-8 at the line with Manny Umoffia scoring seven as they pushed their lead to a game-high 19, 77-58 with 3:34 to play.
• Georgian Court ended the game making 4-5 from the floor, but time ran out and the Knights left Lakewood with an 83-68 win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Clint Wright, Jr. scored a game-high 23 points on 8-12 shooting hitting 5-9 from three. He also came up with three steals.
• Cameron Edmonds added 15 on 6-10 shooting.
• Anthony Rivera chipped in 14 with three rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
• Justin Harper scored 10 with a team-high six rebounds.

For the Knights
• Three Knights scored 15 points: Shamar Chester, Malik Bentink, and Manny Umoffia. Bentinck added 13 rebounds as well for a double-double.
• Umoffia was 3-3 from the floor and 9-12 at the foul line.
• Sunnie Diamond added nine points with eight assists.

News and Notes
• Georgian Court is now 3-2 all-time against Queens. The Knights have won each of the last two games.
• Clint Wright, Jr. has hit five three-pointers in each game he's played against Queens in his career.
• The Lions 48.2 shooting percentage is their best in a game this season. 
• This was the Lions final non-conference game of the season. The remaining 14 games will all be against CACC opponents. 

Up Next
• Having just completed a season-long five-game homestand, Georgian Court will be on the road for the first time since Dec. 12. They take on Jefferson Tuesday, Jan. 9 for an 8 p.m. tipoff following the women's game.