Box Score
BOWIE, Md. — The win just kind cathartic as players and coaches relished the moment.
In a season characterized by see-sawed emotions, Monday's game went back and forth, but in need of big plays late, it was the Lincoln men's basketball team that found them in a 97-91 win over Bowie State at A.C. Jordan Arena.
Lincoln (3-22) got within, 82-81 on a steal by Dante Blanton-Holcombe (Baltimore, MD/Dunbar) (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar) and ensuing lay-in by Ladaye Johnson (Wilmington, DE/Hodgson Vo-Tech) (Wilmington, Del./Hodgson Vo. Tech) despite being fouled. Although Johnson missed the free throw and a chance to tie, Damian Hyman (Bronx, NY/Harry S. Truman) (Bronx, N.Y./Harry S. Truman) came up with the critical offensive board with four minutes to go. Darren Clark (Boston, MA/Largo) (Boston, Mass./Largo, Md.) attacked the basket for two of his 24 points to give Lincoln the lead at 83-82, which it would not relinquish.
After Bowie State's Travis Hyman blew a dunk, Clark laid it in for another two. Back down the floor LU went, and Blanton-Holcombe alertly passed up a trey and aggressively attacked Hyman with four fouls. Forced to relent, the senior soared over the defender and dropped in the basket for two more, and LU was up 87-82 with three minutes to play.
“About time,” Blanton-Holcombe said of the win, who led Lincoln with 25 points. The win was Lincoln's first on the road against a CIAA team this season as the team showed resiliency coming off a three-point loss last night at Virginia Union.
Lincoln passed up its trademark threes to attack players in foul trouble. The resulting easy scores both deflated the Bulldogs and sent confidence through the LU bench.
Coach Garfield Yuille matched wits with a Bowie State team that entered at 14-8 and a staple CIAA power with banners adorning gymnasium fixtures.
“Coach told us to get to the rack, and that's what we did,” Blanton-Holcombe said.
Hyman hit free throws after an offensive foul, and Blanton-Holcombe connected on a trey for a 92-84 LU lead inside of two minutes to go. He would add another trey after a short 3-0 run by BSU to ice the game.
The Lions also regularly attacked the bucket with junior Eugene Smith (West Palm Beach, Fl/PennWood ) (West Palm Beach, Fla./Penn Wood, who finished with eight points. LU's Hyman had 13 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double with no rebound more critical than that offensive snare following Johnson's missed free throw with the Lions down by one. Johnson also had 13 points.
Lincoln gets to savor the win before closing the season with back-to-back home games with Saint Paul's College on Thursday and Friday. Both games start at 7:30 p.m. and can be streamed live on BrandywineRadio.com.
