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CHEYNEY, Pa. – George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) finished just three points shy of tying a career high in points as he finished with 23 points to lead four players in double figures as the Lincoln University (PA) men's basketball team held off a late charge by Cheyney in winning its second consecutive Battle of the Firsts game, 91-84, on Sunday night at Cope Hall.
 
“We are actually getting the hang on winning down the stretch,” Lincoln head coach John Hill said. “Making our free throws (32-of-42) is what helped us overcome the late charge by Cheyney. Kenny, Derrick and George really helped us win today and they never lost composure. I'm always happy to get a win on the road, and especially against our rival.”
 
Jackson also finished with six rebounds, five assists and a steal. Washington scored 21 points, including 11 at the free-throw line and Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy) chipped in 20 points and four boards. Will Cole (Newark, NJ/Cesar Chavez HS) added 12 points and six rebounds as the Lions shot 57 percent (26-of-46).
 
“We didn't get off to a good start this season until tonight, which helped us pull away,” George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) said. “We are just trying to play our game. Playing at Cheyney for the first time was a fantastic atmosphere.”
 
Lincoln (6-1) jumped out to a 25-8 lead just six minutes into the game after Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) sank a pair of free throws, but Cheyney slowed reeled back the Lions advantage and cut the margin to 32-30 after a Brandon Norfleet 3-pointer with 2:45 remaining in the first half.
 
The Lions got buckets by Sharpe and George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) in the final two minutes to take a 39-35 advantage into the break.
 
Lincoln opened the second half on a 12-5 run, capped by a Beloved Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Princeton Day Academy) 3-pointer with 15:05 remaining to give the Lions a 54-42.
 
The Wolves (3-4) wouldn't quit and closed the double-digit deficit to 77-73 after a Jason Sabb layup with 3:58 left, but the Lions proved to be too much and used a 6-0 run to extend the margin to 83-73 after a Washington bucket with 2:17 left.
 
Cheyney tried to rally during the final two minutes and trimmed the margin to 88-83 after a Sabb layup with 30 seconds left. However, the rally fell short as Washington and Sharpe sank free throws to lift Lincoln to the win.
 
Sabb paced all scorers with 27 points, while Norfleet and Deshawn Curtis had 14 and 12, respectively. Cheyney was 30-of-61 from the floor for 49 percent.
 
Lincoln takes a break from action for finals, but returns to action 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 15 in Wilmington, Del., against Wilmington University.
 
Lions Notebook: Lincoln head coach John Hill improved to 2-1 against Cheyney…Lincoln has won two straight in the series for the first time 1992-1993…Lions off to best start since joining NCAA Division II…Lincoln is also off to its best start since the 1993-1994 season when the Lions began the year 6-0 and finished at 16-7…Lincoln remained perfect on the road (3-0)…The 91 points Lincoln scored on Sunday was the most points the Lions have scored this season and the most scored in the rivalry since 2003 (A 86-81 loss)…Lions have two games remaining in 2012 – at Wilmington (Dec. 15) and vs. Central State (Dec. 19).