Queens Reaches NCAA Tournament in First Year Eligible

Queens University's Chris Ashby couldn't miss from beyond the arc when it mattered most, sinking 10 three-pointers to lead the Royals to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in a thrilling 98-93 overtime victory.

The Charlotte-based team achieved something truly special on Sunday in Jacksonville, Florida. After moving up to Division I just four years ago, they punched their ticket to March Madness in their first season of eligibility, beating Central Arkansas in the Atlantic Sun tournament championship.

Ashby's hot hand kept the dream alive when everything seemed to be falling apart. The third-seeded Royals held an 11-point lead with just over three minutes left in regulation, but Central Arkansas stormed back with relentless full-court pressure that forced five turnoises.

Central Arkansas guard Camren Hunter turned in a heroic performance of his own, scoring a tournament-record 49 points and hitting 17 of 30 shots. His 20-point scoring run in the final minutes tied the game at 82 and sent it to overtime, setting up a dramatic finish.

But Ashby answered every challenge in the extra period. He scored the first five points of overtime and finished with 34 points, all from three-point range, setting a tournament record with his 10 makes from deep.

The Bright Side

This victory represents more than just a tournament berth. Queens is proving that programs willing to dream big and work hard can compete at the highest levels faster than anyone thought possible.

The team's rapid rise through Division I shows that the traditional timeline for building a championship-caliber program doesn't have to take decades. Just four years after making the jump, Queens is heading to the Big Dance alongside college basketball's most storied programs.

Jordan Watford added 19 points while Nasir Mann contributed 14 in the victory. The Royals finished their season 21-13, good enough to earn that coveted NCAA tournament invitation.

For a program that didn't even exist at this level half a decade ago, they're about to step onto college basketball's biggest stage.