Top seeded Queens rallied from a 13-point second half deficit with a barrage of 3-pointers to beat Augusta College 88-82 on Sunday and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament. The Royals (30-3) trailed 56-43 after surrendering the first seven points of the second half before finally turning up the heat on both ends of the court to advance to Tuesday’s Southeast Region final against South Atlantic Conference rival Lincoln Memorial. Game time is 7 p.m. Queens and Lincoln Memorial split two regular season meetings, with the Royals breaking the tie by winning 75-72 in the SAC tournament championship game. Todd Withers led the Queens comeback by hitting eight 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 25 points. His trey with 4:20 remaining keyed a 14-2 run and gave his team its first lead since the game’s opening minute at 74-73. Withers also led both teams with 13 rebounds. Mike Davis added 19 points and Ike Augusi had 14 points and seven assists with no turnovers for the Royals, who made 15 3-pointers as a team in the game. On the other end of the court, the Charlotte-based home team tightened up a defense that allowed Augusta to shoot 60.6 points in the first half to limit the Jaguars to just 36.7 percent over the final 20 minutes. Keshun Sherrill led Augusta with 24 points. Queens opened its NCAA tournament run last Wednesday with a 96-80 of in-state rival Wingate. Third-seeded UNC Pembroke and fifth-seeded Pfeiffer were both eliminated in the first round with the Braves falling 100-85 to Limestone and the Falcons losing a 118-86 decision to Lincoln Memorial.
