Preview: Queens (N.C.) Royals at Bellarmine Knights

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — The Queens (N.C.) Royals visit the Bellarmine Knights in an ASUN Conference men’s basketball rematch on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at Knights Hall.

The Royals (12-10, 7-2 ASUN) look to bounce back from a midweek stumble and complete a regular-season sweep of the Knights (8-13, 3-6). Queens won the first meeting decisively, 98-76, in Charlotte on Jan. 3.

Queens enters having lost two of its last three, including a 100-90 home loss to Central Arkansas on Wednesday. Despite the defeat, guard Yoav Berman continued his strong play with 16 points and seven assists. Berman, a key facilitator, averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 assists in the Royals’ recent six-game win streak that preceded the recent skid. He posted 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the first win over Bellarmine.

Bellarmine snapped a four-game losing streak with a 77-74 home victory over West Georgia on Wednesday, led by guard Tyler Doyle’s 21 points. Doyle has been inconsistent but capable of high-output nights, including a 17-point, eight-assist effort in a narrow overtime loss at North Florida on Jan. 24. He was held to 10 points in the January loss at Queens.

The Knights have struggled defensively, allowing 89.3 points per game in conference play. They will need to contain a Queens offense that averages 82.1 points in ASUN games and shot 54% from the field in the January rout.

Bellarmine will aim to protect its home court, where it is 6-5 this season. Queens is 4-7 in true road games but has conference road wins at Stetson, Florida Gulf Coast, North Florida and Jacksonville this month.

The matchup features contrasting trajectories in conference play. Queens sits near the top of the ASUN standings, while Bellarmine is near the bottom and seeks to build momentum from its midweek win.