SALISBURY, N.C. (February 7, 2009) – The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team held a three-point lead in overtime, but it had difficulty rebounding in the extra session and dropped a heartbreaking, 78-76 decision to Livingstone College in a barnburner Saturday evening at Trent Gym. (BOXSCORE)
The Blue Bears corralled seven offensive rebounds in overtime, including four following missed foul shots to defeat Lincoln for the second time this season. Lincoln did not attempt a shot in overtime. All of the Lions points came from the foul line where they were 6-for-7. Lincoln fell to 0-2 in overtime games this season, losing to Cheyney, 85-78 on December 13.
Tayloe Taylor's turnaround shot on the baseline with 40.8 seconds remaining gave Livingstone the lead for good, 77-76. Lincoln turned the ball over with 12 seconds left and after Livingstone made one out of four foul shots on their possession (Sean Booker made the first and missed the second, but the Blue Bears got the offensive rebound like they did throughout overtime. Then Santonio Springs missed two foul shots with 6.8 seconds remaining), the Lions never got a chance to attempt a potential game-tying or winning basket as time expired.
Damain Hyman made three foul shots to give Lincoln a 75-72 lead with 3:02 remaining. Darren Clark (Boston, MA/Largo) made one out of two foul shots to give the Lions their final lead, 76-75, with 1:46 remaining.
Jabyron Wilson led Lincoln with a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds. Bryant Leach (Philadelphia, PA/John Bartram) scored 16 points and Darren Clark (Boston, MA/Largo) added 14 points for the Lions, who dropped their fourth road game this season by four points or less. Springs led Livingstone with 18 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Taylor added 15 points and seven assists. Greg Henry contributed 13 points for Livingstone.
Wilson ultimately forced overtime when he followed up a Clark missed shot with 9.1 seconds remaining that tied the game, 70-70. Lincoln had to hold its breath as Taylor, guarded well by Darrell Mosley (Chester, PA/Chester ), forced up a difficult line drive shot with two seconds remaining. The ball bounced off the backboard and fell to floor.
That capped off a frenetic final five minutes as Lincoln overcame a 63-55 deficit. The Lions displayed poise and a lot of heart in rallying to force overtime. Clark tied the game at 68-68 with 43 seconds remaining on a driving layup. Taylor answered with a pull-up in the lane that gave the Blue Bears a 70-68 advantage with 27.3 seconds remaining.
Lincoln finished the game shooting 43.1 percent (25-for-58) and Livingstone ended making 40.3 percent (25-for-62). Livingstone won the rebounding battle, 42-41.
After Lincoln opened the second half with a 3-pointer that tied the game, 31-31, Livingstone went on a 9-0 run to open a 40-31 lead with 17 minutes, three seconds remaining. It took Lincoln the remainder of the half to finally catch Livingstone.
Lincoln trailed, 31-28, at intermission despite 13 points and five rebounds from Wilson. The Lions held a pair of early five-point advantages (22-17 and 26-21) before Livingstone found its groove. A major reason for Lincoln's deficit was its inability to finish around the basket. The Lions missed nine point-blank shots in the first half.
The Lions were 9-for-27 (33.3 percent) and the Blue Bears made 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) in the opening 20 minutes. Lincoln was 0-for-4 from 3-point distance before halftime. Henry paced Livingstone with 10 points and Springs added eight in the first half.
Lincoln returns to action Tuesday night when it hosts reigning CIAA Player of the Year Anthony Hilliard and Elizabeth City State University. Livingstone will be home to face Saint Paul's College. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m. Elizabeth City State defeated Lincoln, 97-79, on November 22 at the R.L. Vaughn Center.
