HICKORY, N.C. | Shaun Willett scored 22 points to lead four Queens University of Charlotte players in double figures as the No. 7-ranked Royals held off Young Harris College 85=69 in a non-conference game Saturday (Nov. 10) evening at Shuford Gym on the Lenoir-Rhyne University campus.

The Royals improved to 3-1, while the Mountain Lions fell to 0-2. Young Harris returns to action Wednesday (Nov. 14) when they open its home schedule at the YHC Basketball Arena against Catawba College at 7:30 p.m.

Queens used a 9-2 run midway through the opening 20 minutes to take a 10-point lead (32-22) after Willett sank a three-pointer with 6:13 remaining. Young Harris responded by using an 11-5 run to pull within four points (40-36) after Justin Jones nailed a three of his own with 56 seconds remaining before the half.

The Royals opened up the second half by scoring the first eight points to open up a 49-36 lead on a Lewis Diankula layup with 18:03 to go. After Queens had stretched its lead to 14 points (59-45), the Mountain Lions fought back with 10 unanswered points to climb within four points (59-55) after a layup by Jones with 10:52 left.

Queens broke up the game when they connected on back-to-back-to-back three-pointers that saw the Royals expand their lead to 13 points (74-61) with 5:59 remaining.The closest Young Harris would get the rest of the way was 12 points.

Daniel Carr added 19 points for Queens, while Blake Morrow (15) and Armoni Lee (10) also finish in double figures for the Royals. Willett also added 11 rebounds.

Jones led the Mountain Lions with 15 points, while Nicksen Blanc tossed in 13 more and J.J. Flores and Cheick Kone each posted 11. Kone led YHC with seven rebounds, while Brian Harper had six assists, six rebounds and five steals.