Queens Suffers Heartbreaking Loss to Augusta in Southeast Regional Final

STORY COURTESY OF QUEENS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

AUGUSTA, GA. - The No. 4 Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team (30-4, 21-3 SAC) saw their historic season come to an end at the hands of No. 5 Augusta University (31-3, 15-3 PBC) in heartbreaking fashion in a battle between two top five teams for the Southeast Regional Championship. The loss snaps the programs best, 17 game winning streak, as Queens caps off a historic season with a 30-4 record and their 15^th trip to the big dance.
 
After the Jaguars went 1-for-2 from the free throw line to even the score 74-74 with 40 seconds left, the Royals put the ball into their leaders' hands. As the shot clock went down, Kenny Dye exploded past the Augusta defense dropping in a layup to take a 76-74 lead with eight seconds to play. The Jaguars would use a timeout to set up a play as the home fans became worrisome and quiet. Augusta would race down the court and Miguel Arnold would receive the handoff and put up a three pointer with two Royals in his face and sink the game winner forcing Christenberry Fieldhouse into an uproar. Kenny Dye would throw a full court attempt at the hoop, but the shot missed wide right as the Royals suffered a heartbreaking defeat.
 
The entire game remained close, and the first half was no different. There were 20 lead changes in the first half alone. The Royals were incredibly efficient in the first 20 minutes, shooting 48-percent from the field. No team led by more than five for the entire half as the Royals outscored the Jaguars, 5-1 over the final two minutes to take a 36-32 lead into the half. This season, the Royals were a perfect 26-0 when leading after the first 20 minutes heading into this pivotal game.
 
The Royals would come out of the gates strong, extending their lead to 42-35 with 17:39 left to play in the game. The Jaguars would claw back, however, going on an 8-0 run to take a 44-43 lead with 14:24 to play. The two sides would go back-and-forth for the next four minutes, until the Royals went on a 9-3 run to take a 58-52 lead with 8:22 to play.
 
The Jaguars would respond once again, as they went on a 9-2 run to retake the lead, 61-60. The Jaguars would extend their lead to as much as four, 71-67 with 2:49 to play. The game's last minutes were a thrilling back-and-forth affair. Trailing 73-70, Jamari Smith scored four consecutive points to give the Royals a 74-73 lead with 54 seconds to play before the Jaguars would go 1-for-2 from the line. Kenny Dye would race past the Jaguars defense to pour in the go-ahead layup. In a last second attempt, the Jaguars would throw up a contested three sinking the go-ahead shot to propel into the Elite Eight.
 
Jamari Smith was outstanding all night for the Royals, scoring a career-high 33 points while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. Jay'Den Turner added 22 points and six rebounds of his own. Kenny Dye was the usual stabilizing presence for the Royals, scoring 17 points and a team-leading eight assists.

The Royals finish the historic season with a 30-4 overall record. The Royals won 30 games for the third time in the last five years and they won the conference regular season for the first time since 2019 and the conference tournament for the first time since 2018.