Queens Men's Basketball Announces 2024-2025 Non-Conference Schedule Featuring SEC and Big 12 Opponents - Queens University of Charlotte Athletics (2024)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's basketball team is thrilled to announce their 2024-2025 non-conference schedule on Thursday afternoon. The non-conference slate features 13 games with opponents from the SEC, Big 12, Sun Belt, Big South, and SoCon.

"We are very fortunate to get our schedule done so early to help build momentum into next year," said head coach Grant Leonard. "Our non-conference slate is packed with regional opponents that the fans can get excited for. Plus, we have two road games versus teams that I anticipate will be top 25 teams after the portal has stopped turning in BYU and Ole Miss. Playing Western Carolina in the first week should bring a huge and energetic crowd and then the Battle for I-77 against Winthrop inside the Levine Center should be rocking. Overall, a ton to be excited about for the city of Charlotte."

Queens will look to handle their business on the road as eight of their 13 matchups will take place away from Curry Arena. The schedule is highlighted by NCAA Tournament participant BYU and National Invitational Tournament qualifiers in Utah and Appalachian State.

The third Division 1 season will commence on Monday, November 4^th when Queens hosts Lynchburg inside Curry Arena. Following the Monday night meeting, the Royals will turn their attention to in-state foe Western Carolina as the Catamounts will make the trip to the Queen City on November 8^th. The meeting will mark the second all-time matchup, and the first since December 11, 1999, when the Catamounts emerged 92-83 in Cullowhee. The Friday night battle will be the first game for the Royals as a part of the ASUN/SoCon Challenge.

The following week, the Royals will hit the road for their first road test which will begin a lengthy five-game road swing. Queens will head west and square off against one of the Big 12's newest conference members in Utah on Tuesday, November 12^th. The Utes fell in the Pac-12 quarterfinals last season to Colorado before making a deep run in the NIT. Utah reached the semifinals before dropping a shootout with Indiana State, 100-90. The Royals will have a quick turnaround as they square off against BYU within 24 hours. Despite earning a six seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Cougars dropped their first-round outing against Duquesne, 71-67.

Upon returning to the Carolinas, the road stretch will continue as Queens heads to Boone for the second all-time meeting with Appalachian State. Last season, the Mountaineers halted a late second-half surge from the Royals to secure a 93-81 victory inside Curry Arena. Appalachian State is coming off a quality season in which they made the NIT before falling to top-seeded Wake Forest, 87-67.

Queens will remain on the road heading into the weekend as they travel to Johnson City, Tennessee for a multi-team event hosted by East Tennessee State University. The Royals will square off against USC Upstate on Saturday, November 23^rd before capping off the event against ETSU on Sunday, November 24^th. The meeting with the Spartans will be the first since December 20, 1997, when the Royals ousted the Spartans, 81-64. Queens and ETSU squared off two seasons ago in the Royals inaugural Division 1 season. The Royals took down the Buccaneers 78-75 in Johnson City behind a second-half spark.

Queens will kick off the new month in the Queen City when they host cross-town foe Winthrop on Tuesday, December 3^rd. The meeting will be the seventh all-time, and the first in Charlotte between the two schools separated by 24 miles. Last season, the Eagles extended their winning streak over the Royals to three straight with an 88-82 victory. The last three outings between the two programs have been decided by an average of six points.

Queens will return to the road and head up I-77 into Virginia for a Saturday showdown with VMI on December 7^th. The meeting will be the first between the two programs and will be the second game as part of the ASUN/SoCon Challenge. Queens will head back to Charlotte and prepare to welcome Carolina University on Tuesday, December 10^th. Last season, five Royals reached double figures against the Bruins as the Royals rolled 112-64.

The midweek action will set the table for a pivotal Saturday battle in Boiling Springs with Gardner-Webb on December 14^th. The game will mark the sixth all-time meeting and the first in Boiling Springs since 1994-1995. Queens holds a 3-2 advantage over the Runnin' Bulldogs as the Royals have captured the last two meetings. Last season, a last-second three-pointer from BJ McLaurin sent the Royals past the visitors, 83-80.

The final two non-conference clashes will be split between Charlotte and Oxford. Queens will welcome Mercer on Wednesday, December 18^th for the second-ever meeting with the Bears. Last season, Mercer fell to the eventual SoCon Tournament champions from Samford in the SoCon Tournament quarterfinals. Following the midweek action, the Royals will head to Oxford for their first-ever meeting with Ole Miss on Saturday, December 21^st. The Rebels lost to Texas A&M 80-71 in the opening round of the SEC Tournament last season. The meeting will be the Royals sixth matchup with a power five opponent since joining the Division 1 ranks.

Fans can access the full 2024-25 non-conference schedule by visiting the Queens Athletics website.

The Royals are coming off their second season in Division 1 which included their second straight ASUN Tournament appearance. Queens took down FGCU in the opening round of the ASUN Tournament before falling to the eventual tournament champion in Stetson. The Royals faced a challenging schedule which included Elite Eight opponents in #9 Duke and #14 Clemson. Despite the tough slate, Queens ranked 10^thin the country in adjusted tempo and averaged 80.1 points per game which was fourth-most in the ASUN.

Despite revamping the roster, the Royals return key players in Bryce Cash, Chris Ashby, and Malcolm Wilson. Cash, an ASUN All-Freshman Team selection returns after starting 32-of-33 games last season. The Charlotte native averaged 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game in his first season. Joining Cash are key depth assets Chris Ashby and Malcolm Wilson. Ashby appeared in all 33 games last season and buried 95 three-pointers, a mark that was fourth most in a single season in program history. Wilson, a 7-0 center from Georgetown blocked 41 shots on the year which ranked top five in the league.

In the offseason, the Royals added talent and depth across the board. Queens signed three Division 1 transfers, two Top 100 JUCO products, two international sensations, and a high school McDonalds All-American nominee.

Season tickets for the 2024-2025 season are set to go on sale on Monday, July 1^st at noon! Fans can purchase their tickets for the 2024-2025 season by visiting the Queens Athletics website. Be sure to stay up to date on the Queens Men's Basketball team by following them onTwitterandInstagram.