Box Score LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Behind a career-high 24 points by Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS), the Lincoln University men's basketball team won its second straight CIAA Northern Division game as the Lions rolled past Virginia State, 62-53, on Thursday night at Manuel Rivero Hall.
 
“Every game is going to be a struggle for us because we have some challenges and one of them is that we're just not that big,” Lincoln head coach John Hill said. “Every game is going to be a fight. The goal was to win every home game. Coming off a nine-day road trip and seeing how brutal it is out there to win a game on the road, it really makes us appreciate being home.”
 
Washington's big night including a near perfect night from the floor as he was 9-of-11 shooting, including sinking three 3-points and had career-high seven rebounds, two steals and two assists. Denzel Mooney (Baltimore, Md./Western School of Technology) added 15 points, seven rebounds and a pair of assists as the Lions (10-12 overall, 5-6 CIAA, 3-2 CIAA Northern) shot 51 percent (24-of-47) from the floor.
 
“We needed this win,” Washington said. “Winning is always important, so we're going to try to keep winning.”
 
Lincoln opened the game on an 8-3 run, but Virginia State battled back and took an 18-15 advantage after a Shawn Porter layup with 10:46 remaining in the opening game. The Lions responded and used an 12-2 run, capped by a pair of Washington free throws to give Lincoln a 27-20 lead with 7:20 left.
 
The Trojans (3-17, 2-8, 0-5) tied the game at 33 with 1:15 left, but a Mooney jumper gave Lincoln a 35-33 halftime lead.
 
Lincoln opened the second half on a 12-6 run to take a 47-39 lead after a Jai Kellman (Brooklyn, N.Y./George Westinghouse HS) 3-pointer with 13:38 remaining. Virginia State rallied and cut the deficit to 50-47 after a Mike Bynum trey with 10:09 left. However, the Lions roared to victory by out-scoring the Trojans, 12-6, during the final 10 minutes to get the win.
 
Kenny Mitchell paced Virginia State with 15 points and eight boards. Bynum and Obn Rassoull chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Trojans were 21-of-55 from the floor for 38 percent.
 
The Lions will have four days off before their next CIAA Northern Division contest as Lincoln plays host to Elizabeth City State 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7 at Manuel Rivero Hall. Catch all the action through live stats at: http://www.sidearmstats.com/lincoln/mbball/index.htm.