Queens knocks off FGCU in first home game in nearly a month

 

Queens guard Deyton Albury recorded his career-high as a Division 1 player, scoring 27 in Wednesday's win over FGCU.  (Photo:  Queens University of Charlotte Athletics)

CHARLOTTE – Deyton Albury is becoming a bit of a regular at this SportsCenter highlight thing.

The Queens point guard has already appeared in the ESPN flagship show’s Top 10 once this season for a poster-style dunk, and an inexplicable, tumbling layup that induced a foul may be the next accolade he is presented. Albury scored a game-high 27 points – including the wild shot – to help guide his Royals to a 78-75 decision over Florida Gulf Coast before an announced crowd of 395 in Curry Arena.

“Honestly, I have no clue. I’m just as confused as you are,” Albury said when asked after the game about how the layup fell. “I just went in the lane, saw the backboard, threw it up, drew the contact, and it went in. I was surprised myself.”

Queens coach Grant Leonard – who knows a thing or two about having a dynamic point guard in Royals legend Kenny Dye – was equally as amused and excited as Albury.

“He put it in the air, and the funny thing is, I literally said to myself, ‘That’s going in,’ because Deyton makes those shots,” Leonard said. “Deyton is electric. As a coach, you’ve got to give him a lot of freedom, because his ability to get to the rim is honestly tops in the country.”

Deyton Albury with a RIDICULOUS layup through the foul 🤯

@ESPNAssignmentDesk#RoyalsRise | #QUeenCity | #LTM | #OSIOS pic.twitter.com/ujmc7JdoBp

— Queens (N.C.) Men’s Basketball (@queensMBB) January 11, 2024

Before that layup, though, the Royals and Eagles embarked on a typically nip-and-tuck ASUN battle. Queens (7-10, 1-1 ASUN) countered a game-opening Isaiah Thompson triple with a 10-2 run keyed by two AJ McKee threes that put the Royals ahead by five. Queens would gradually bump the lead to seven on a Chris Ashby three, only to start the game of runs that would eventually ensue.

FGCU (7-11, 1-2) quickly squared the game at 18 on a 7-0 burst, then used a 9-0 stretch to turn a four-point deficit into a five-point lead. Queens evened the proceedings at 29 on a Bryce Cash bucket and Albury triple, then evenly fought with FGCU to take a 35-all tie to the interval.

With the back-and-forth struggle continuing into the second half, FGCU used another run to try to create some separation. After Queens built a three-point lead on back-to-back Albury buckets, FGCU opened up an 8-0 burst to transform the three-point deficit into a five-point lead – its largest of the second half. The Royals would land the final dagger in the series of streaks shortly thereafter, though.

Queens tore off a 12-4 burst to neutralize the five-point FGCU lead and seize an advantage it would not relinquish. Albury contributed the first half of the run, followed by back-to-back Chris Ashby threes. The first again drew the game level, with the second putting the Royals ahead to stay.

“Chris coming off the bench has given us some scoring, which we desperately needed,” Leonard said. “Bryce Cash made one of those passes from the high post. Bryce is special as a freshman. We’re trying to get him in position where he can make more plays like that.”

“Those little details, where Chris doesn’t have to leave his area to get the ball (on a pass) – that’s a huge deal. When Chris has got his feet set, there are not many shooters in the country that are better.”

Zach Anderson would stick a jumper immediately after Ashby’s second three to whittle the Queens lead to a single point. Queens continued to keep FGCU at arm’s length, eventually getting a layup and two free throws from Albury to extend the lead back to seven. Franco Miller, Jr. sank a three to cut it to four, then got it to three on a Miller bucket with 11 seconds remaining.

FGCU committed a foul with nine seconds to send Queens to the line with a chance to put the game away. Neither free throw found the net, however, setting up FGCU with one final try to send the game to extra time. Anderson’s attempt from beyond the arc harmlessly fell away, though, allowing Queens to exhale and leave the floor with the result.

Albury led Queens and all scorers with 27, hitting 9-of-14 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the line.

“They gave me a lot of driving opportunities in transition,” Albury said. “Honestly, I felt in the first half that they contained me pretty well. I went in at halftime and got some tips from my coaches, then came out with a different mindset.” Albury scored 20 in the second stanza, hitting 6-of-8 tries from the field.

McKee added 18 for the Royals, hitting 7-of-13 from the deck and 4-of-10 from distance. Ashby added 12 on four threes, with B.J. McLaurin tallying 11 points and six boards. The Royals shot 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the field, hitting 11 threes in 31 tries (35.5 percent).

Anderson and Miller Jr. paced the visiting Eagles with 18 points apiece. The duo hit 14 of their 23 attempts from the field  and totaled six triples. Forward Keeshawn Kellman finished a carom shy of a double-double, adding 16 points to his nine boards. FGCU connected on 45.3 percent (29-of-64) from the floor, with 32 percent (8-for-25) of their threes finding the net.

The sides resume play Friday. FGCU travels to the KSU Convocation Center in Kennesaw, Ga., to square off with Kennesaw State. Stetson ventures to Curry Arena to do battle with Queens. Both games are set for 7:00 (Eastern) starts, with streaming available via ESPN+.                                                                                          

QUEENS 78, FGCU 75

FGCU (7-11, 1-2 ASUN)

Anderson 7-12 0-1 18, Kellman 8-9 0-1 16, Barno 3-7 3-5 9 Thompson 2-12 3-4 8, Johnson 1-12 0-0 3, Miller Jr. 7-11 2-3 18, Vespe 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 29-64 9-16 75.

QUEENS (7-10, 1-1)

McLaurin 5-12 0-0 11, Pollard 0-3 0-0 0, McKee 7-13 0-2 18, Cash 2-4 0-0 4, Albury 9-14 7-9 27, Sebock 2-4 0-0 4, Ashby 4-10 0-0 12, Threatt 0-0 0-0 0, Wilson 1-2 0-0 2, Mathews 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-62 7-11 78.

Halftime:  Tied 35-35. 3-Point goals:  Queens 11-31 (McLaurin 1-4, Pollard 0-2, McKee 4-10, Cash 0-1, Albury 2-3, Sebock 0-1, Ashby 4-10), FGCU 8-25 (Anderson 4-6, Barno 0-1, Thompson 1-7, Johnson 1-8, Miller Jr. 2-3). Fouled out:  Barno (FGCU), Johnson (FGCU). Rebounds:  FGCU 38 (Kellman 9), Queens 35 (Cash/Albury 7). Assists:  Queens 15 (Albury 5), FGCU 9 (Barno 3)). Total fouls:  FGCU 13, Queens 13. Technicals:  NA.

Points off turnovers:  Queens 15, FGCU 8.  Points in the paint:  FGCU 36, Queens 36.  Second-chance points:  FGCU 4, Queens 2.  Fast-break points:  Queens 15, FGCU 9.  Bench points:  FGCU 21, Queens 18.