Box Score NEWARK, Del. – The Lincoln University men's basketball team continued its hot start to the season as the Lions held off Wilmington University, 80-75, on Saturday afternoon at the Wilmington University Athletics Complex.
 
Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) and Will Cole (Newark, NJ/Cesar Chavez HS) each had 16 points to pace the Lincoln offense. Cole finished with a double-double as he pulled down 10 rebounds. Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy) registered 15 points, three assists and three boards and Beloved Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Princeton Day Academy) poured in 14 points and three rebounds. Richard Glover (Baltimore, Md./Havre De Grace HS) had four points, but also finished with 10 rebounds as the Lions (7-1) shot 44 percent (22-of-57) from the floor.
 
The Wildcats (2-9) opened the game on an 11-6 run, capped by a pair of Dennis Herbert free throws with 14:21 remaining. The Lions answered and tied the game at 11 with 12:47 left on a free throw by Cole.
 
Neither team had a lead larger than two points during the final 12 minutes as Tajee Almon sank a free throw right before half to give Wilmington a slim, 36-34, lead at the half.
 
The Wildcats extended the advantage to 41-37 after two free throws by Herbert with 17:16 left, but Lincoln responded with a 17-9 run, capped by a Rogers jumper with 10:18 remaining.
 
The Lions pushed the margin to 65-55 after three free throws by Washington with 6:08 remaining, but Wilmington rallied late with an 18-9 run to cut the deficit to 74-73 after a 3-pointer by Isiah Mason.
 
But Lincoln sealed the victory at the free-throw line as Washington accounted the final six points to give the Lions the win.
 
Brandon Fox led Wilmington with 19 points and eight boards. Herbert chipped in with 15 points and James Pee finished with 13 as the Wildcats were 25-of-53 shooting for 47 percent.
 
Lincoln concludes play before the Christmas Break 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 19 as the Lions take on Central State at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium against Central State University. To follow the action through live stats, click here.
 
Lions Notebook: Lincoln won for the fifth straight time…The Lions finished with eight 3-pointers (four by Beloved Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Princeton Day Academy), two from Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy) and one each by Jai Kellman (Brooklyn, N.Y./George Westinghouse HS) and Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS))…The Lions were 22-of-28 from the free-throw line…Lincoln was dominate on the boards, out-rebounding Wilmington, 40-25…The Lions had 10 assists, five steals and a pair of blocked shots…Lincoln has one game remaining on its schedule in 2012 before conference play and will look to pick up win No. 8 against Central State on Dec. 19.