The Lincoln University men's basketball team placed four players in double figures but they could not overcome a strong shooting performance from Virginia Union University and their own dismal performance on the free throw line as the Panthers earned a 72-67 win Wednesday night at Manuel Rivero Hall.

The loss drops the Lions record to 9-10 overall and 4-5 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association games.   Virginia Union improves to 11-9 overall and 6-2 in league play.

Union's starting five combined to shoot 50% from the field on the evening with the team as a whole connecting on 48.1% of their shots. The Lions while making one fewer field goal than the Panthers and five more three-point field goals, failed to capitalize on their normally strong free throw shooting (72.3% for the season), getting outscored at the line 14-6 while making just six of their 18 shots.

Sean James (Newark, Del./Christiana (Iona)) led the Lions with 17 points (5-9 3FG) while Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) notched a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.  Gevon Arrington (Petersburg, Va./Petersburg (Richard Bland)) turned in another all-around effort, stuffing the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds and eight assists.  TreVaughn Wilkerson (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic (Hartford)) came off the bench to score ten points and grab five rebounds.

Neither team would lead by more than two possessions throughout the first half, which also saw seven lead changes.  The Panthers built a six point lead over the first five minutes of the period before a 16-9 flourish gave Lincoln a one point lead, 23-22.  James and Cameron Campbell (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian ) spearheaded the run with two three-point field goals apiece.  Another three-ball, this time from Umar Saaba (Philadelphia, Pa./Boy's Latin) at the 1:17 mark, put the Lions up four at 33-29 before the Panthers scored the final two baskets to tie the game at halftime, 33-33.

James opened the scoring in the second half with his fourth three-pointer of the night to put Lincoln back on top 36-33.  Virginia Union then scored the next 11 points to take a 44-36 lead with 16:21 left.  The Panthers pushed the lead to nine, 49-40 three minutes later before the Lions rallied with seven straight points to close within two 49-47.  James started the run with a free throw and Arrington and Jordan Camper (Chester, Pa./Chester) followed with three-point field goals.

Lincoln still trailed by two 51-49 with 10:38 remaining when VUU's Kori Cooley connected on three straight three-pointers, boosting the Panthers lead to 11, 60-49.  A layup from Devin Moore completed an 11-0 Panther run before James made the last of his five three-balls to stop the bleeding and start another Lions comeback with a 13-4 run that pulled Lincoln within three 65-62 with 2:34 left in the game.

The Panthers scored the next four points to lead 69-62 before Wilkerson scored from deep and Elijah Bush (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore (Essex County CC)) added a free throw to again make it a one possession game with 52 seconds left, 69-66.  Union however scored three of the last four points of the game come away with the five point win.

Todd Hughes led Virginia Union with 19 points while Cooley added 17.  James Paige chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds and Moore added 12.
 
The Lions will return to action on Saturday, January 27, 2018 when they host Chowan University.  Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m.