#23 Winston-Salem State slips past Lincoln, 70-66

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – The Lincoln University men's basketball team led by as many four points late in the second half, but couldn't hold on as the Lions dropped a hard fought, 70-66 decision to No. 23 Winston-Salem State University in a CIAA contest on Saturday at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.

“We're moving on,” Lincoln head coach John Hill said. “It's going to be a journey and one game doesn't make this season. We considered this game a measuring stick and we just came up a bit short.”

Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy) paced four players in double figures as he finished with 14 points and six assists. Derrick Washington (Washington, D.C./Coolidge SHS) added 13 points, while Justin Jackson (Baltimore, Md./Digital Harbor HS) had 12 points off the bench. George Jackson (Baltimore, Md./Digital Harbor HS) poured in 10 points as the Lions (8-3 overall, 1-1 CIAA) shot 42 percent (24-of-57) from the field.

Winston-Salem State (9-2, 2-0) raced out to an 11-2 advantage after a Justin Glover jumper with 16:15 remaining in the opening half. However, Lincoln responded with a 13-2 run as Justin Jackson (Baltimore, Md./Digital Harbor HS) sank a 3-pointer to give the Lions a 15-13 lead with 13:46 left.

Neither team grabbed a lead larger than two points during the final 13 minutes as they headed into the break tied at 36.

The Lions held a 64-60 advantage after a Washington dunk with 5:14 remaining, but the Rams used a 9-0 run, capped by a Tyre Desmore jumper with 2:21 left to give Winston-Salem State a 69-64 lead.

A pair of free throws by Sharpe cut the deficit to 69-66 with 1:10 remaining, but the Lions couldn't get any closer.

Justin Glover led the Rams with 16 points, while Joe Thompson added 13. WyKevin Bazemore pulled down a game-high 12 boards as Winston-Salem State was 26-of-52 from the floor for 50 percent.

Lincoln concludes its three-game CIAA homestand at 8 p.m., on Monday, Jan. 7 at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium against Livingstone College. To follow the action through live stats, click here.

Lions Notebook: Lincoln was 6-of-20 from behind the 3-point line (Justin Jackson (Baltimore, Md./Digital Harbor HS) (2), Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy), George Jackson (Baltimore, Md./Digital Harbor HS), Jai Kellman (Brooklyn, N.Y./George Westinghouse HS) and Derrick Washington (Washington, D.C./Coolidge SHS))…The Lions finished with 32 rebounds, 10 assists, four steals and a pair of blocked shots…Lincoln held the advantage in points off turnovers, 17-13 and second chance points, 12-8…There were eight ties and 22 lead changes…


By Brian Howard, Sports Information and Media Specialist
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA ATHLETICS