Box Score BOWIE, Md. – The Lincoln University men's basketball team tried to rally late against No. 21 Bowie State, but the Lions fell just short as the Bulldogs survived with a 69-63 victory on Saturday evening in a CIAA Northern Division showdown at A.C. Jordan Arena.
 
Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy) scored a career-high 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds to pace Lincoln (11-14 overall, 6-8 CIAA, 4-4 CIAA Northern). It was the second straight night Sharpe reached a career high in points. He scored 21 on Thursday night against Chowan. George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) had 14 points and Denzel Mooney (Baltimore, Md./Western School of Technology) added 13 as the Lions shot 34 percent (23-of-67).
 
Bowie State (19-4, 11-3, 7-1) got some distance from Lincoln in the final two minutes as the Bulldogs took their biggest lead of the opening half, 31-24, after a pair of free throws by Travis Hyman. However, the Lions got a 3-pointer by Justin Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) to close the gap to 31-27 right before halftime.
 
Lincoln opened the second half on a 13-4 run to take a 40-35 lead after a Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy) 3-pointer from the right wing with 15:40 remaining. However, Bowie State quickly responded and tied the game at 40 after a 3 pointer and a putback with 13:57 left.
 
Scott's trey sparked a 14-9 run to give Bowie State a 54-49 advantage with just under eight minutes left. However, a small spurt by Lincoln cut the deficit to 54-53 after a Sharpe free throw with 6:55 remaining.
 
The Bulldogs used a 10-4 run, capped by a Darren Clark three-point play to give Bowie State a 64-57 advantage with 1:37 remaining. The Lions tried to rally with buckets by Mooney and Richard Glover (Baltimore, Md./Havre De Grace HS) to cut the deficit to 65-61 with 29 seconds left.
 
Byron Westmorland went to the free throw line with 19 seconds left and missed the pair and Lincoln took advantage as Sharpe scored on a putback with 12 seconds remaining. Jay Gavin gave the Bulldogs a 67-63 lead after sinking a pair at the foul line with 11.4 seconds left and his free throws with 3.6 seconds remaining sealed the victory.
 
Scott led Bowie State with 18 points, while Clark had 13. Westmorland finished with 12 and Gavin added 10 as the Bulldogs were 21-of-52 shooting for 40 percent.
 
The Lions get a week off and will return to action 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18 in Richmond, Va., against Virginia Union University in a CIAA Northern Division clash. Lincoln won the first meeting this season against the Panthers, 86-81 in overtime on Jan. 30.