CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Lincoln University men's basketball team had four players reach double figures in scoring, but couldn't hold off California (Pa.) as the Lions fell, 84-74, on Friday night in the season opener in the PSAC-CIAA Conference Challenge at Hamer Hall.
 
Denzel Mooney (Baltimore, Md./Western School of Technology), who only had nine points at the half, led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting. George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) finished with 15 points and dished out five assists, while his brother, Justin, recorded 12 points. Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy) added 10 points as the Lions (0-1) were 29-of-55 from the floor for 53 percent.
 
The Vulcans took their largest lead of the first half, 36-17, with 5:38 remaining on a layup by CJ Townes, but Lincoln closed out the final five minutes on a 16-3 run as Nyerere Pritchett (Middletown, Del./Charter School of Wilmington) banked a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 39-33at the half.
 
The rally continued in the second half as Lincoln took its largest lead of the night with 12:23 left as Sharpe scored on a layup to push the advantage to 57-53. However, the Vulcans answered with a 14-3 run, capped by a Chad Tipton free throw to give California a 67-60 advantage with 6:13 left.
 
The Lions cut the deficit to three points, but could never get any closer.
 
Tipton led the Vulcans (1-0) with 19 points and Mitchell Weedon chipped in with 16. Tynell Fortune and Chris Williams scored 13 and 12 points, respectively as California shot 47 percent (27-of-57) from the floor.
 
Lincoln concludes the PSAC-CIAA Conference Challenge 5:30 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 12 against Clarion.