The Lincoln University and Elizabeth City State University men's basketball teams battled for 40 minutes Wednesday night at the Vaughn Center as the Vikings outlasted the Lions 68-66 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
 
The Lions fall to 7-16 overall and 5-8 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association games.  ECSU improves to 2-18 overall and 2-11 in league play.

Ten ties and 21 lead changes highlighted to 40 minutes of non-stop action, with 15 of those lead changes coming in the second half.  Khayyir Laws (Chester, Pa./Delaware County Community College) scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the first half and was joined in double figures by James Richardson (Jersey City, N.J./Raritan Valley Community College) (12 points) and Sean James (Newark, Del./Iona College) (11 points).  Joshua Davis (Saginaw, MI/Louisburg Junior College) added nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The Vikings placed five players in double figures with Jordan Jones leading the way with 13 points.  Elon Edwards chipped in 11 while a trio pf players had ten points apiece (John Maynor, Tiorean Land, and Javonte Miles).  Jones led the team with six rebounds.
 
Neither team led by more than four points during a seesaw second half battle which saw 15 lead changes, six of those in the first 3:38 of the period as the two teams flip-flopped a one point lead.  Tracy Nelson's three-pointer at the 16:23 mark moved the Lions ahead by two at 39-37 before the Vikings scored the next six points to take their biggest lead at 43-39. 
 
After the two teams exchanged baskets, it was the Lions turn to score six straight points and reclaim the lead. Davis started the rally with a dunk, followed by a Richardson driving layup and ended with a pair of free throws from Umar Saaba (Philadelphia, Pa./Boys Latin HS), giving the Lions a 47-45 lead.  An 8-2 spurt by the Vikings put them back on top 56-52 with just under seven minutes to go.  Lincoln countered with an 8-2 run of their own, capped by a pair of Carlton Allen (Trenton, N.J./Manhattan College) free throws to retake the lead 60-58 at the 5:32 mark.  Lincoln still led 62-61 when Jones got open on each of the Vikings next two possessions for layups, giving ECSU a 65-62 advantage with 1:57 left.  Lincoln closed within one twice in the final minute but could not pull out the win as the Vikings hung on for the 68-66 triumph.
 
The Lions return to action on Saturday, February 11, 2017 when they host  Virginia Union University at Manuel Rivero Hall.   Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m.