JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a chaotic and high-stakes ASUN Conference tournament clash defined by a superstar duel and a furious comeback, the Queens University of Charlotte Royals outlasted the Central Arkansas Bears 98-93 in overtime Sunday at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

The game, played before a crowd of 2,066, was a dramatic sequel to the teams’ regular-season meetings, both won by Central Arkansas. This time, behind a career-defining performance from guard Chris Ashby, the Royals flipped the script, erasing a late double-digit deficit to force overtime and ultimately seize victory.

Central Arkansas, the pregame favorite by 3.5 points according to sportsbooks, controlled the tempo for much of the contest. The Bears built a 34-30 halftime lead and stretched their advantage to 82-72 with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, powered by the spectacular scoring of Camren Hunter. The guard was relentless, finishing with a game-high 49 points.

The final minutes of regulation, however, belonged to Ashby and the resilient Royals. Trailing by 10, Queens mounted a desperate and precise rally. Ashby, who had been a constant threat from beyond the arc all afternoon, hit a critical three-pointer and then calmly sank two free throws with 34 seconds left to cut the deficit to 82-78. After a Central Arkansas turnover, Queens worked the ball to Ashby again, who was fouled on a three-point attempt with 25 seconds on the clock. The Houston native swished all three free throws, pulling Queens within a single point at 82-81.

Central Arkansas’s Hunter was then fouled and made both free throws to push the lead back to 84-81 with 17 seconds left. Queens, without a timeout, raced upcourt. The ball found Ashby once more, and the 6-foot-2 guard delivered under immense pressure, draining a deep three-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 84-84 with just 12 seconds remaining. Hunter’s last-second attempt to win it in regulation was off the mark, sending the game to an extra period.

The overtime belonged almost entirely to Queens. The Royals, having captured all the momentum, scored the first eight points. Jordan Watford, who provided crucial support with 19 points and six assists, scored inside. Ashby then struck again with another three-pointer, and Nasir Mann, who contributed 14 points, added a free throw for a 92-84 lead. Central Arkansas, visibly staggered, never recovered. The Bears were outscored 16-11 in the extra frame, with Hunter’s heroic 49-point effort ultimately undone by his team’s inability to close.

Ashby’s final line was monumental: 34 points, four assists, and 43 minutes of clutch play, far surpassing his recent performances. His backcourt counterpart, Hunter, was equally brilliant for Central Arkansas, adding three assists and a block to his 49-point outburst. Ty Robinson supported Hunter with 16 points for the Bears.

The game was a statistical anomaly, with the combined final score of 191 points sailing far over the sportsbook over/under line of 161.5, highlighting the offensive explosion from both sides, particularly in the second half and overtime.

With the win, Queens improved its season record to 21-13 and advanced in the ASUN tournament, avenging its two regular-season losses to Central Arkansas. The Bears, who entered the game with a 22-11 record, saw their season end in heartbreaking fashion despite holding a high probability to win according to pregame analytics.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably the final two minutes of regulation and the start of overtime. Queens, facing a 10-point deficit and imminent elimination, executed with flawless precision under duress. Chris Ashby’s personal 8-point run—a three-pointer, two free throws, and the game-tying triple—was a stunning display of individual shot-making and poise. That sequence completely shifted the psychological and tactical landscape of the game. It drained Central Arkansas, which had been in control for over 38 minutes, and infused Queens with a belief that carried into overtime, where they immediately delivered a knockout blow. This rapid, high-pressure turnaround from the brink of defeat to commanding the extra period was the definitive turning point that decided the contest.