LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (January 17, 2008) –Anthony Hilliard scored 42 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help Elizabeth City State University defeat Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, 97-80, in a men's basketball game Thursday night at Manuel Rivero Hall. (BOXSCORE)
Hilliard scored 26 of his game-high point total in the first half as the visiting Vikings outscored Lincoln, 52-39, in the second half to post their first road victory in five tries this season. Elizabeth City State swept the season series from the Lions.
Lincoln junior guard Dante Holcombe-Blanton scored a team-high 22 points. It was Blanton-Holcombe's 19th consecutive game reaching double digits in points. Sophomore guard Ladaye Johnson (Wilmington, DE/Hodgson Vo-Tech) finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, tying his career high. Julian Hall (Baltmore, MD/Archbishop Curley) scored a career-high 16 points in 23 minutes. Emmanuel Kakulu (Boston, MA/Another Course to College) handed out a team-high six assists. Eugene Smith (Lansdowne, PA/Penn Wood) added seven rebounds for Lincoln (1-15).
Lincoln trailed, 45-41, at intermission, but the Vikings began the second half by scoring the first five points to open a 50-41 advantage. Powered by Olajuwon Johnson, who scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, the Vikings eventually took control of the game midway through the second half. Johnson added 12 rebounds as Elizabeth City snagged 61 boards.
Lincoln made 13 3-pointers with Blanton-Holcombe, Johnson and Hall making four each.
The Lions return to action Monday night when they travel to the University of the Sciences for a 7:00 p.m. start. The game can be heard live over the Internet at www.redzonemedia.com with Matt Martucci, the voice of the Lions, calling all of the action from Alumni Hall.
