CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Jacksonville Dolphins extended their conference win streak to seven on Saturday, taking down Queens 87-77.

The Dolphins (13-7, 7-1) have now won four consecutive road conference games and are still amid their best conference win streak since the 2009-10 season. The win keeps Jacksonville atop the ASUN conference standings with the Dolphins holding, at worst, a share of first place heading into Wednesday's contest with FGCU.

Jacksonville got double-digit scoring efforts from Robert McCray V, Jakari Spence and Kendall Munson on the way to the win.

Preseason ASUN Player of the Year McCray led all scorers with 24, shooting 4-8 from beyond the arc. Munson tied his career-high in scoring with 16 while also ripping down six rebounds. Spence notched 16 as well, connecting on 9-11 shots from the charity stripe.

Spence was active all over the floor as the graduate guard tied the team lead in rebounds (seven) and led the team in assists (seven).

Coming into Saturday's game, the Royals were top-3 in the league in both rebounding categories. However, Jacksonville brought its signature brand of hoops into Curry Arena and outrebounded Queens 44-34. The Dolphins secured 31 defensive boards, to Queens' 22, and outrebounded the Royals on the offensive glass 13-12.

Stephon Payne III grabbed seven rebounds of his own as McCray and Zach Bell each pulled down five.

HOW IT HAPPENED

As has been the case through most of the win streak, Jacksonville jumped out early. After a McCray three-pointer with 12:49 to go in the opening frame, JU led 23-12. McCray and company got that lead up to 30-18 which was good for the team's largest margin in the first half.

Queens got the game to within two points at the seven-minute mark but Jacksonville kept the home team at bay and went into halftime up 43-36.

Out of the break, Queens jumped all over Jacksonville and retook the lead after an 8-0 run to open the half. McCray and Munson kept JU in striking distance before one of JU's sharpshooters got smoldering hot: Zimi Nwokeji. 

Nwokeji was 0-3 from beyond the arc heading into the second half. But at the 6:55 mark, Nwokeji hit a triple. 

After two McCray free throws the following possession, Nwokeji hit his second. The next time the Dolphins touched the ball, Nwokeji buried his third consecutive triple to put JU up 74-60. Queens was never able to close the gap after the senior got hot from deep.

"I told Zimi at halftime that in our last home game, he missed a couple then hit two in a row," head coach Jordan Mincy said. "Shooters shoot. We were never going to lose confidence in him. If he has a good one, he can let it fly."

Jacksonville's 87 points were its highest scoring output since entering conference play and its most points scoring since beating Florida Tech. 

The Dolphins also moved to a perfect 7-0 in conference play when outrebounding opponents.

COACH'S COMMENTS

"We talk about adversity all the time," Mincy said. "Through the course of the game, our confidence never wavered. We talk about having crazy confidence. We knew Queens was at home and they were going to make runs. We just kept telling the guys that we needed to string a couple stops together. I was proud of the effort, their understanding and them never folding." 

GAME NOTES

• The Dolphins shot well from three point range, knocking down 10 of 22 long range attempts.
• Jacksonville recorded 18 total assists in the game.
• Spence hit his first three pointer since the win over ETSU on Dec. 14. Was 0-1 during that time. 
• The Dolphins were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying six blocks as a team.
• Chris Arias added eight points going 2-2 from deep and 3-5 from the field.

NEXT UP

Jacksonville returns home from its successful road trip for a mid-week matchup with FGCU. The Dolphins host the Eagles on Wednesday, Jan. 29 looking to maintain its lead on the ASUN. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.