LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Lincoln University head men's basketball coach John Hill embarks on his second season at the helm and faces an uphill battle.
 
The Lions begin the 2011-2012 season facing stiff challenges as Lincoln was picked to finish sixth in the Preseason CIAA Coaches Poll. But Hill would be quick to point out that it's not where you start the season, but how you finish that season.

RETURNERS

The Lions return five players off last year's 4-23 team, including All-CIAA First Team and All-CIAA Preseason Team member Denzel Mooney (Baltimore, Md./Western School of Technology).
 
Mooney (SG, 6-4, 200, SR, Baltimore, Md.) had a phenomenal junior season. He registered 24 double-digit scoring games, including scoring more than 30 points four times. Mooney, who ranked 18th nationally in scoring, had a career-high 37 points in a loss to Bowie State. For all of his accolades, Mooney, who became the first Lincoln University men's basketball player to earn All-CIAA honors, averaged 21 points (second in the CIAA), 5.2 rebounds (17th in the CIAA) and 2.6 assists (14th in the CIAA) per game. He enters his final season just 136 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
 
Joining Mooney is Terron Jones (Bronx. NY/Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS), who played in all 27 games last season. Jones (PF, 6-4, 200, SO, Bronx, N.Y.) had a solid freshman season for the Orange and Blue. He registered eight double-digit scoring games, including pouring in a career-high 22 points in the CIAA Tournament against Shaw. A solid free-throw shooter, Jones was 28-of-33 from the charity stripe for 85 percent and averaged 4.0 rebounds per game.
 
Richard Glover (Baltimore, Md./Havre De Grace HS) played in 25 games, starting in 14 for the Lions during his sophomore season. Glover (SG, 6-1, 205, JR, Baltimore, Md.) scored in double figures twice, including a career-high 12 points, while going 6-of-8 from the free-throw line against Central State. He averaged 3.5 points and 2.1 per game.
 
Dominique Stewart (Islandia, N.Y,/St. John the Baptist DHS) returns for his sophomore season after playing in 23 games as a freshman. Stewart (PF, 6-6, 190, SO, Islandia, N.Y.) earned 12 starts last season and scored season-highs of five points twice. He shot 47 percent (15-of-32) from the field and finished the year by averaging 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 points per game. He pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds, including 10 on the defensive glass at Fayetteville State.
 
The last of the returning players is Eric Johnson (Allentown, Pa./William Allen HS). Johnson (SG, 6-0, 190, SR, Allentown, Pa.) saw limited action last season, playing in a pair of games.

NEWCOMERS

The Lions have eight newcomers, including five transfers.
 
Lincoln will have a pair of brothers as a new addition to the 2011-2012 roster in George and Justin Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS).
 
George (PG, 5-11, 175, SO, Baltimore, Md.) will look to make an immediate impact at the point guard position. He comes to Lincoln University from Coppin State. While spending a year at Coppin State, George played in 22 games, starting in seven. He averaged 16.2 minutes, 3.0 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. He dished out 29 assists and was 19-of-26 from the free-throw line for 73 percent.
 
Justin (SG, 6-0, 175, SO, Baltimore, Md.) comes to Lincoln from Morgan State University where he saw limited action last season. He played in 16 games, averaging 4.4 minutes and 0.7 points per game.
 
Chris Kinney (Washington, DC/Theodore Roosevelt SHS) (PF, 6-6, 230, SO, Washington, D.C.) makes the small trip from Takoma Park, Md., to Lincoln University. He played last season at Washington Adventist University. Prior to WAU, Kinney, who played at Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School helped guide the school to the 2008 City Championship with a 24-6 record.
 
Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) (PG, 6-0, 170, SO) comes to Lincoln from Independence Community College. Prior to ICC, Washington played at Calvin Coolidge High School where he was named Team MVP and earned Capital Classic honors.
 
The final transfer is Kenneth Sharpe. Sharpe (SG, 6-3, 175, JR, Chester, Pa.) played last season at Frank Phillip Junior College. He attended George Washington High School in Philadelphia, Pa., where his career bests were 37 points, eight assists, eight rebounds and four steals.
 
Hill added the right blend of newcomers and transfers as three players will make their collegiate debuts.
 
Kyle Aiken (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS) (PG, 6-0, 185, FR, Randolph, N.Y.) was a two-time All-County, All-Conference selection at Randolph High School. His career bests include 36 points and 14 assists.
 
Jai Kellman (Brooklyn, N.Y./George Westinghouse HS) (SG, 6-2, 160, FR, Brooklyn, N.Y.) played at George Westinghouse High School where he captained the Warriors during the 2009-10 season. He poured in a career-high 42 points at Queen City Prep.
 
Nyerere Pritchett (Middletown, Del./Charter School of Wilmington) (SG, 5-10, 185, FR, Middleton, Del.) comes to Lincoln from Charter School of Wilmington. He was selected to the 2010 All-State team.
  

THE SCHEDULE

The Lions begin the season in the PSAC-CIAA Conference Challenge as Lincoln plays host California (Pa.) and meets Clarion on the second day of the challenge. The first home game for the Lions is Nov. 16 against Millersville and two days later, Lincoln takes on rival Cheyney at the Liacouras Center at Temple University.
 
November continues to be an extremely busy month for the Lions as Lincoln plays host to Goldey-Beacom on 22nd. The highlight of the month comes Nov. 25-26 as the Lions travel more than 800 miles to play in the Fresh Coast Classic at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Lincoln opens classic play against Fisk University and will meet either Bowie State or Cheyney on the second day.
 
 “Our participation in the Fresh Coast Classic will provide an opportunity for the student-athlete to experience visiting the Midwest part of the United States,” Hill said. “Many of our student-athletes have only been fortunate enough to enjoy the eastern portion of the country. The goal is always to provide a learning environment that will allow the student-athletes to be enhanced intellectually. This trip's exposure will be remembered when reflecting upon their collegiate basketball experiences.
 
 “Most of the players do not know we are visiting Green Bay Packer territory, whose fans are known as the Cheese Heads. Overall, it's a great HBCU basketball event in the Midwest that provides a tournament atmosphere like no other this early in the season. We are looking forward to the challenge of spirited competition and enjoying the City of Milwaukee.”
Lincoln ends the month of November by traveling to Washington Adventist on the 30th.
 
The Lions will play only three contests in December - vs. Pfeiffer (3rd), at Holy Family (13th) and at Central State (16th).
 
Lincoln steps into CIAA play as the calendar flips to January. The Lions travel on the 5th to Saint Augustine's College, before playing host to three straight games against Livingstone (7th), Johnson C. Smith (9th) and Fayetteville State (12th). Lincoln may enjoy that three-game homestand, but the Lions hit the road for four consecutive games starting on the 16th against Winston-Salem State. Lincoln takes on Shaw (19th), Elizabeth City State (21th) and Chowan (23th). The Lions conclude the month with a pair of games starting on the 28th against Bowie State and the 30th versus Virginia Union at Manuel Rivero Hall.
 
Lincoln starts off February with three straight home games as the Lions play host to Virginia State (2nd), Elizabeth City State (7th) and against Chowan (9th). The Lions spend the next three games on the road, first against Bowie State on the 11th in a CIAA televised contest. Lincoln plays on the 18th against Virginia Union and 20th at Virginia State before playing host to Washington Adventist for Senior Day on the 23rd.
 
The CIAA Championships start on Feb. 29 in Charlotte, N.C., at the Time Warner Cable Arena.