RICHMOND, Ky. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dramatic reversal of momentum, the Queens Royals used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from the Eastern Kentucky Colonels for a 96-79 victory in an ASUN Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at McBrayer Arena.

The Royals, who trailed by five at halftime, outscored the Colonels 51-29 after the break to secure their fourth consecutive win and improve to 18-12 overall. Eastern Kentucky dropped to 11-19.

The contest’s pivotal shift occurred early in the second half. After Eastern Kentucky’s Juan Cranford opened the period with a 3-pointer to extend the Colonels’ lead to 53-45, Queens unleashed a decisive 18-1 run over the next five minutes. The surge transformed an eight-point deficit into a nine-point lead and seized control of the game for the visitors.

Queens guard Yoav Berman, the game’s standout performer, ignited the run with a 3-pointer and a driving layup. Forward Maban Jabriel contributed five points during the stretch, including a dunk off a steal, and Carson Schwieger capped it with a 3-pointer that gave the Royals a 63-54 advantage with 15:20 remaining. Eastern Kentucky, which shot 50 percent in the first half, went cold, managing just one free throw over a span of more than six minutes as Queens built its lead.

Berman, a junior from Tel Aviv, Israel, finished with a game-high 24 points and added six assists, a steal and a block in 31 minutes. His playmaking was crucial, especially during the game-altering run. Jabriel, from Waterloo, Canada, provided 15 points off the bench, while Jordan Watford and Chris Ashby scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Eastern Kentucky was led by Montavious Myrick’s 17 points. Jalen Cooper added 14 points and two blocks, and Tyler Jackson scored seven points and also blocked two shots for the Colonels.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes. Eastern Kentucky built its largest lead at nine points, 49-40, after a 3-pointer from Jayden Harris with just over three minutes remaining. Queens closed the gap before halftime, with Nasir Mann hitting a floating jumper in the final seconds to send the teams to the locker room with the Colonels ahead 50-45.

Queens’ second-half adjustments were evident beyond the scoreboard. The Royals tightened their defense, forcing 11 Eastern Kentucky turnovers after halftime and converting them into points. They also established a commanding 34-20 advantage in points in the paint for the game and outscored the Colonels 17-13 on fast breaks.

The announced attendance was 1,598. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Queens, which edged Eastern Kentucky 91-89 in Charlotte on Jan. 1.

Queens, which has won seven of its last nine games, will look to continue its push in the ASUN standings when it travels to face Central Arkansas on Saturday. Eastern Kentucky will host Lipscomb on Saturday.