ST. LOUIS (WBTV) – The historic season for the Queens University Royals came to an end on Friday night after they lost their first-ever men’s NCAA tournament basketball game.
The No. 15-seeded Queens University was matched up with the No. 2-seeded Purdue Boilermakers on Friday, March 20. The Boilermakers used a pair of 10-0 runs to cruise to a 104-71 win.
Purdue jumped out to a 58-36 lead with 16:27 left to play and led by at least 20 the rest of the way.
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The Royals were led in scoring by Jordan Watford and Nasir Mann, the younger brother of Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann. Each had 10 points.
Despite not having a Cinderella run in this year’s tournament, the Royals won the Atlantic Sun Tournament to earn a spot in the big dance. It was the Royals’ first year of postseason eligibility.
Queens University hung around for much of the first half against Purdue and were within five points, trailing 35-30, with just under three minutes left to play.
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However, the Boilermakers would go on their first 10-0 run to make it a double-digit lead at halftime. The Royals trailed 45-33 after Chris Ashby drained a three with time running out in the first half.
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