FLUSHING, N.Y.—The Assumption University men's basketball team pushed their winning streak to seven games thanks to Daouda Dembele's block on one end and a hard layup on the other, giving the Greyhounds a 79-77 non-conference win at Queens College, Tuesday evening. 

THE BASICS:
Score: Assumption University 79, Queens College 77
Records: Greyhounds (7-2, 4-0 NE10) | Knights (4-8, 2-0 ECC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
Jamal Barnes started the scoring for the game as he knocked down a three-pointer off the Zee McCown steal. The two teams would trade baskets throughout the opening 20 minutes, but Queens College would start to establish a slight advantage. Eric Tynes connected from long range at 8:06 of the opening half, giving the Knights their largest lead of the first half, seven points (24-17). The Greyhounds would hit their next three shots, cutting the deficit to just three points in 2:20 of game action. Kyle Hicks tied the score at 28-28 as he converted a three-point play before Njavan Stewert closed out the opening 20 minutes by scoring the final eight points for the Hounds, as Assumption headed into the intermission up 36-35. 
 
The scoring would ratchet up in the second half as the two teams combined to shoot 9-of-18 from the floor, and Queens would regain a 47-45 advantage. The Knights would maintain their lead for the next five minutes before Noah Payne converted on an and-one halfway through the frame, giving Assumption a 58-56 lead. The Greyhounds would see their largest lead of the game at 6:31 of the second half, as Barnes connected on a pull-up jumper (71-62). The hosts would battle back and tie the game at 73-73 with 3:41 showing on the clock before regaining the lead following a Jaden Pena jumper a minute later. The two teams would trade baskets down the stretch, but a massive block by Dembele before scoring with a layup with a pocket pass by Payne would give the Greyhounds a cardiac win. 
 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Noah Payne pours in a career-high 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor while adding two rebounds, two assists, and one block to his line. 
• Jamel Barnes (14), Njavan Stewart (11), Daouda Dembele (10), and Kyle Hicks (10) eclipsed the double-digit plateau for points, while Baril Mawo netted five points and ten boards. 
• Assumption outrebounded Queens 44-38, while Dembele's layup with 3.0 remaining in regulation proved to be the difference in both points in the paint (44-42) and second-chance points (42). 
• Assumption now leads the all-time series 4-2. 

 
UP NEXT:

• Assumption vs. Wilmington University (Del.), Friday, December 20, 1:00 pm
• Queens at Holy Family University, Saturday, December 21, 12:00 pm. 

 
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