LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. (February 21, 2011) — The Lincoln University men's basketball program nearly executed an epic comeback before falling to Virginia State, 75-68, Monday night at Manuel Rivero Hall.

Trailing by 23 at 58-35 with 11:40 remaining, the Lions got within 73-68 with seven seconds left before Virginia State sealed the game behind the clutch free throw shooting of Mike Bynum, who made five attempts in the final 45 seconds.

LU was led by junior guard Denzel Mooney (Baltimore, Md./Western School of Technology) with 27 points. One of the NCAA's top scorers, he notched his 16th game with at least 20 points. The Baltimore, Md., was an incredible 12-for-14 from the free-throw line but both of his misses came with 26 seconds left and the Lions down seven, making the unlikely comeback attempt slightly more improbable.

Coach John Hill three seniors also did their best to go out with a victory in their last game at Manuel Rivero Hall.  Eugene Smith (West Palm Beach, Fl/PennWood ) did his usual of filling the stat sheet. Smith had 12 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

Emmanuel Kakalu put together another good game in his final homestand with eight points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal. 

Zane Oxley (Philadelphia/Martin Luther King HIgh School) with his trademark tough defense added eight points, two rebounds, two assist and a steal. Oxley was responsible for cutting the deficit to five within a matter of seconds with the game on the line for the Trojans.

The difference in the game for the teams was shooting from behind the arc.  The Lions were 1 for 11 and the Trojans were 8 for 19.  For the Lions, Mooney imable to find his groove from the perimeter as he went 1 for 6.  Leading the Trojans in that department was D'Angelo Johnson, who went 3 for 3 from deep and had 13 points on the day.

Johnson was joined by four other Trojans in double figures.  Led by Chris Washington with 14, Mike Bynum with 12, and Brandon Plummer with 10. 

Up Next
The Lions' conclude the season in Richmond, Va., against Saint Paul's College. The game will be at Virginia Union's Barco-Stevens Hall.

— LU —