
Jacksonville
(-8.5)

Queens (NC)
(+8.5)
Highlights
Preview
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — The Queens Royals will look to complete a regular-season sweep and solidify their standing in the ASUN Conference when they host the Jacksonville Dolphins on Thursday night at Levine Center. Queens (12-11, 5-5 ASUN) dominated the first meeting, a 77-51 road victory on Jan. 8, and enters with a better overall record. However, the Royals have dropped three of their last four, including a 78-75 loss at Bellarmine on Saturday. Forward Avantae Parker has been a consistent force, averaging 15.3 points and 5.0 rebounds over his last three games, including a 17-point, 7-rebound performance in the loss to Bellarmine. Jacksonville (9-14, 4-6) seeks to halt a two-game skid and avenge its most lopsided conference loss this season. The Dolphins are coming off a 68-49 home defeat to Florida Gulf Coast, where they shot just 32.7% from the field. Their fortunes often hinge on the play of guard Hayden Wood, who has shown high-scoring capability with outings of 25, 21 and 18 points in recent weeks, though he was held to eight points in the first matchup against Queens. The Royals’ balanced attack, which featured four scorers in double figures in the January win, will test a Jacksonville defense allowing an average of 71.3 points per game. Queens averages 80.5 points per contest, ranking near the top of the conference. A key battle will be inside, where Queens’ Parker and Jacksonville’s Jaylen Jordon, who grabbed eight rebounds last time out, will clash. The Dolphins must improve their ball security after committing 17 turnovers in the first meeting, which Queens converted into 23 points. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST. The game is part of a tight ASUN schedule where both teams are jockeying for postseason positioning. Queens currently sits in a tie for sixth, while Jacksonville is just a game back in a tie for eighth.