CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Despite an ASUN-high 18 points from sophomore guard Chris Arias, the Jacksonville Dolphins couldn't overcome the hot-shooting Queens Royals, falling 93-84 Thursday night.

With the loss, Jacksonville fell to 9-15 overall and 4-7 in ASUN play. After winning two straight over EKU and Lipscomb, the Dolphins have dropped their last two ahead of a Saturday rematch with West Georgia. Jacksonville is 2-0 all-time against the Wolves prior Saturday's tilt in Carrollton.

Playing his most minutes since the ASUN opener against Lipscomb in Nashville, Arias led all scorers with his 18 points. It was his second-best scoring performance of the season behind just his heroic career-high 24 in the win over VMI. Arias also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds, which was second most in the entire game.

Normally a 3-point threat, Arias went just 1-3 from beyond the arc, doing most of his damage around the rim. He finished 7-10 shooting overall and went 3-3 from the charity stripe.

Joining Arias was yet another 17-point showing from big man Donovan Rivers. That scoring number tied Rivers' career-high which is the third time in ASUN play Rivers has matched his career best scoring total. He did so behind an 11-14 night from the free throw line, setting new career highs in both free throws made and free throws attempted. 

Rivers made just one fewer free throws on Thursday night alone than he had in the previous seven games combined (12).

Queens jumped ahead early in the first half and took that advantage into halftime up 44-31. The 44 points allowed by the JU defense was the most points allowed at halftime in ASUN play thus far. Queens entered the game as the league's top 3-point shooting team and showed it in the opening 20 minutes, going 6-9 from range.

The second half was where things flipped in favor of the Dolphins, as JU rattled off 53 points and allowed just a pair of 3-point makes from the Royals.

A deep ball make by Arias got the game to 63-49 in favor of Queens before the Royals mounted another run. At the 5:27 mark in the second half, JU had already surpassed its first-half total in scoring and was far from done.

Jaylen Jones got the game to within 13 with under three minutes to play and Arias got the game to within 11 with 62 ticks left. Rivers again got the game to 11 with 26 seconds left on the clock, but Queens' first-half effort proved just too much for the 'Phins to overcome.

It truly was a game of two halves for the Dolphins as JU shot 36.4% in the first half, but followed that with a 62.1% shooting effort in the second.

Jacksonville yet again outrebounded its opponent, this time 30-27, thanks to the 15 combined boards by Jason Thirdkill Jr. and Arias. 

Thirdkill Jr. ended his night with 10 points and eight boards. It was Thirdkill's third game in ASUN play with double-digit scoring and eight or more rebounds. 

Hayden Wood added 12 points, good for his seventh game in conference with double-digit scoring. Early foul trouble limited the freshman to 25 minutes, his fewest minutes in nine games. 

Jones scored 12 points of his own which counted for his second most points scored in ASUN play. It was the most points scored by the guard since the first time Queens and Jacksonville met on Jan. 10. 

Even with Jacksonville's second half effort, the 93 total points allowed were the most points given up to ASUN team under head coach Jordan Mincy.

Jacksonville next turns its attention to West Georgia, seeking to sweep the season series against the Wolves after defeating UWG at home 75-43. Tipoff at UWG is set for 2 p.m. EST inside The Coliseum in Carrollton.