CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — Nasir Mann scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Queens (N.C.) to a 91-84 victory over West Georgia in an ASUN Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Levine Center. The Royals improved to 17-12 overall by outpacing the Wolves in offensive efficiency, posting a 126.2 rating on 72 possessions. Queens dominated inside with 54 paint points and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 28 of 36 attempts. West Georgia (12-16) shot 48.5% from the floor but managed only three assists and was held scoreless on fast breaks. Josh Smith led the Wolves with 20 points. The win avenged a Royals loss at West Georgia on Jan. 24.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by paint dominance and poise at the free-throw line, the Queens Royals avenged a loss from earlier this season by outlasting the West Georgia Wolves 91-84 in an ASUN Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Levine Center. The victory improved Queens to 17-12 overall, while West Georgia fell to 12-16. The result flipped the script from the teams’ meeting just four weeks prior, when the Wolves secured a 74-66 win in Carrollton, Georgia. The most critical phase of the contest came in the final five minutes, with Queens clinging to a narrow lead. After West Georgia’s Josh Smith connected on a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 82-85 with 3:59 remaining, the Royals executed a decisive 7-0 run to seize control. The sequence was anchored by Nasir Mann, who followed a missed free throw with a crucial offensive rebound, then stepped back to drain a 3-pointer, pushing the lead to eight points. A layup by Avantae Parker on the next possession extended the advantage to 89-82 with 3:31 left, a margin the Wolves could not overcome in the closing moments. Mann, a 6-foot-5 guard from Gainesville, Florida, was the game’s standout performer, registering a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. His clutch plays down the stretch capped a dominant performance that saw him consistently attack the basket, as the Royals finished with a commanding 54-38 advantage in points in the paint. Queens complemented its interior success with a stark disparity in free-throw production. The Royals attempted 36 free throws, making 28, while West Georgia went 14 for 19 from the line. That 14-point advantage at the charity stripe proved pivotal in a game decided by seven points. The Royals’ offensive efficiency, measured at 126.2 points per 100 possessions, overcame a frigid 3-for-20 shooting performance from beyond the arc. They compensated by shooting 51.7% from the field overall and forcing 10 Wolves turnovers, which they converted into 11 points. West Georgia, which posted a solid offensive rating of 112.0 itself, was led by Smith’s 20 points off the bench. Kenneth Chime, a 6-foot-9 forward from Enugu, Nigeria, added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. The Wolves shot 48.5% from the field but were hampered by just three assists against their 10 turnovers, and failed to score a single fast-break point, compared to 18 for the up-tempo Royals. Queens also received significant contributions from Jordan Watford, who had 14 points and six assists, Yoav Berman with 15 points, and Avantae Parker with 15 points and four rebounds. For West Georgia, Shelton Williams-Dryden scored 14 points, Kolten Griffin added 12, and Matija Žužić chipped in 14. The game was a tale of contrasting styles. West Georgia stayed close by hitting six 3-pointers and battling on the glass, but could not contain Queens’ relentless penetration or match its frequency of trips to the foul line. The Royals’ ability to generate high-percentage shots inside and convert free throws ultimately secured the season-series split. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Queens entered the game with an 87.9% probability to win. The combined score of 175 points surpassed the over/under line of 163.5. Queens will look to build on the win when it travels to face Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. West Georgia returns home to host Lipscomb on the same night.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — The Queens Royals will seek to avenge a late-January loss and solidify their position in the ASUN Conference standings when they host the West Georgia Wolves on Saturday at Levine Center. The Royals (16-12) enter the matchup with a stronger overall record than the Wolves (12-15), but West Georgia secured a 74-66 victory when the teams met in Carrollton, Georgia, on Jan. 24. In that game, West Georgia’s Shelton Williams-Dryden dominated with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Queens’ Yoav Berman was held to 10 points. Both key players enter this rematch in strong form. Williams-Dryden, a dynamic guard/forward for the Wolves, is averaging 21.4 points over his last seven games, including a 24-point, 11-rebound performance in the first matchup against Queens. He is coming off a 20-point effort in an 81-80 overtime loss at Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. For the Royals, guard Yoav Berman has been a consistent facilitator and scorer, averaging 14.9 points and 5.1 assists per game this season. He posted 16 points and two assists in Queens’ most recent outing, an 85-78 road win at North Alabama on Wednesday. The game features teams with contrasting recent trajectories. Queens has won three of its last four, including conference victories over Lipscomb and North Florida at home. West Georgia has struggled on the road, losing its last two away games at Central Arkansas and Eastern Kentucky, but has shown it can compete with top-half conference foes, as evidenced by its win over Queens earlier this season. A victory would help Queens maintain momentum heading into its final regular-season road trip next week. West Georgia aims to split its two-game road swing and build confidence before returning home to face Lipscomb next Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Charlotte.