Phenom Hoops took in a little college action on Wednesday night, heading down the road to Queens University of Charlotte as they matched up with Newberry. Queens sat at 9-3 while Newberry came in at 7-5, both settling in the middle of the pack of the South Atlantic Conference.
The game started out a little slow but did it ever start to pick up. Both of these teams really shot the ball well throughout the game and both not shying away from the 3-point line. Both teams started to trade baskets but Newberry started to create a little space led by guards Marcus Ford and Luke Gibson's ability to knock down multiple threes. Sophomore Quandaveon McCollum pitched in as well with 10 first-half points. However, Queen's answered back on multiple occasions to keep this within a basket or two. Freshman Jamari Smith was outstanding in the first half, scoring 11 points and really being a force down low, while Kenny Dye and Van Turner Jr. attacked at the guard position.
Halftime: Newberry 43 – Queens 38
The offense continued in the second half, with Newberry continuing to hold their lead six minutes in. That is when Queens turned the tables, going on a 10-2 run in about a minute to turn a deficit into a four-point lead. Queens increased their lead to as many as 12 points in the second half but Newberry continued to chip away to stay within striking distance.
Back and forth they went, with both teams shooting incredibly well from the field and from three. Newberry battled and stayed within a basket or two but Queens seemingly had an answer. For knocked down a big three late with 12.8 seconds to cut it within three but free throws from Kenny Dye sealed the win for Queens.
Final: Queens University 96 – Newberry 91
Stats:
Queens: Van Turner Jr. 26 points (8 3-pointers)/
Kenny Dye 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists/ Daniel Carr 15 points/ Jamari Smith
11 points/ Gavin Rains 10 points, 10 rebounds
Newberry: Marcus Ford 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists/ Quandaveon
McCollum 21 points, 5 rebounds/ Luke Gibson 17 points, 4 assists/ Angelo Sales
Jr. 9 points, 11 rebounds
Standouts:
Van Turner Jr. (Queens): Turner is an absolute shooter with range and he isn't afraid to pull the trigger once he steps over half court. He showed it, knocking down 8 3-pointers and going for 26 points in the win.
Kenny Dye (Queens): There is something about his composure and IQ on the floor, as he sees the floor incredibly well, has strong handles, and knows when to score or be the lead point guard. He was outstanding in the game, going 8-for-8 from the floor for 23 points.
Jamari Smith (Queens): Smith had a quiet second half but in the first half, there wasn't much Newberry could do. He has a soft touch around the rim and can step out with his mid-range jumper as well. Only a freshman, he is going to be a good one for the next few years for Queens.
Gavin Rains (Queens): Rains is an absolute worker on the court. He hustles on both ends, attacks the boards like a mad-man, and brings incredible energy to the team. He secured a double-double and just made impactful, winning plays.
Marcus Ford (Newberry): Coming off the bench for Newberry, Ford found his stroke, scoring 24 points and continuing to step up and make big shots. Knocking down 7 3-pointers, Ford really came up big and was feeling it from deep, however, he didn't force any plays.
Quandaveon McCollum (Newberry): McCollum showcased great touch and feel with his back to the basket. He can attack the rim either side as well as display a nice jump hook to his game. McCollum had soft touch all night and finished with 21 points, going 9-for-10 and finishing through contact on multiple occasions.
Luke Gibson (Newberry): Gibson was the other guard that really hurt Queens from deep, going 5-for-7 from behind the arc and finishing with 17 points. Even though he is a smaller guard, he wasn't afraid to step up and hit big shots, as well as get the offense going. Stayed low to the ground, created separation with his handles, and didn't turn the ball over.
