LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (December 5, 2007) – The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team had its 25-game home-court winning streak come to an end with a 73-54 loss to Bowie State University Wednesday night at Manuel Rivero Hall. (BOXSCORE)
Junior guard Dante Blanton-Holcombe paced Lincoln with 16 points. Junior guard Ladaye Johnson scored a career-high 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Lions, who fell to 0-7 on the season. Also reaching double figures for the Lions was junior Jermaine Russell (12 points, team-high eight rebounds).
The 54 points scored by Lincoln were the fewest it scored at home under fourth-year coach Garfield Yuille. The last time Lincoln failed to scored at least 60 points in a home game was in 2003 when it dropped an 86-52 decision to Randolph-Macon.
Bowie State (4-2) received a game-high 24 points from Christian Jackson. Jason Ingram and Davis Paris scored 14 points each for the Bulldogs, who handed Lincoln its last home defeat, 106-93, on December 8, 2004. Joshua Johnson had a game-high 12 rebounds for Bowie State.
In snapping a two-game losing streak, the Bulldogs led from start to finish with the exception of a 2-2 tie early in the game. Bowie State took the lead for good, 4-2, at the 16:23 mark of the first half. After falling behind, 16-9, at the 12:04 mark, Lincoln scored six straight points (on a Garrick Wooten basket, a Lavine Grimes 3-pointer and a Russell foul shot).
Bowie eventually stretched its advantage to 32-24 at halftime. The Bulldogs took control when they began the second half with a 14-2 run to open its largest lead of the game, 46-26, with 15:21 remaining. Lincoln made a few runs, but it could not get the Bulldog advantage under double digits.
Johnson and Blanton combined for a quick 7-0 run midway through the second half that brought Lincoln to within, 60-49, with 6:51 remaining. Blanton finished the run by throwing down a dunk.
Lincoln returns to action Saturday evening when it visits West Virginia Tech beginning at 8:00 p.m. in the first round of the Baisi Classic in Montgomery (W. Va.).
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