CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Queens University of Charlotte could not keep pace on the road Tuesday night, falling 98-82 to BYU in front of 16,963 fans at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. The Royals dropped to 2-2 on the season, while the Cougars improved to 3-0.
Rickey Ballard and Caleb Jones each led the Charlotte school with 18 points. Ballard knocked down six three-pointers on 12 attempts, and Jones made four of his eight long-range tries. Avantae Parker added 16 points and eight rebounds, hitting all five of his free throws and handing out three assists. Ballard also grabbed six rebounds and had an assist, while Jones added two assists and three steals.
BYU led 54-42 at the break, then scored 44 in the second half to Queens’ 40. The Cougars’ largest lead reached 22. Robert Wright III scored 21 points for BYU and handed out six assists, and Bruce Branch III and Jaxon Kohler each scored 15. Kohler also grabbed eight rebounds.
The Royals shot 28 of 69 from the field and made 14 of 34 three-pointers, and they were sharp at the line, going 12 of 14. Queens finished with 22 assists to BYU’s 20 and forced 12 turnovers while committing 13, and it picked up 11 steals.
The difference came inside and in transition. BYU outscored the Royals 36-24 in the paint, and it won the fast-break battle 18-14. The Cougars shot 35 of 65 overall and 17 of 37 from beyond the arc, and they made 11 of 17 free throws.
The Royals never led by more than two points on the night. They are based in Charlotte and made the long trip west to Utah for the game, which finished their second road loss of the young season.
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