Box Score LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy) paced three players in double figures as the Lincoln University men's basketball team knocked off Johnson C. Smith, 75-68, in the CIAA opener on Thursday night at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.
 
“This was a good confidence builder for our team,” Lincoln head coach John Hill said. “Last year they came into our place and shot lights out. For us to step up and play hard and make some shots was outstanding. We have had a great start to the year and now with conference play, we get to see what we are made of. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
 
Sharpe finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS), who sank three second-half 3-pointers, added 22 points, including going 6-of-6 from the foul line. Will Cole (Newark, NJ/Cesar Chavez HS) poured in 10 points and pulled down eight boards as the Lions (8-2 overall, 1-0 CIAA) shot 40 percent
 
Johnson C. Smith (7-4, 0-1) led 21-18 after a Terrance Washington free throw with 7:13 remaining in the first half, but Lincoln controlled the final seven minutes by using a 16-9 run to take a 34-30 advantage into the break.
 
The Golden Bulls kept the game close and took a 40-37 lead after a Terrance Washington jumper with 14:41 left. The Lions answered as neither team grabbed an advantage larger than to points during the next seven minutes.
 
A George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) 3-pointer with 6:26 remaining gave Lincoln a 59-55 lead and sparked a 12-3 run, giving the Lions a commanding 68-58 advantage with 2:16 left.
 
Johnson C. Smith refused to go quietly and trimmed the deficit to 69-64 after a Robert Williams layup with 1:16 left, but Lincoln got key free throws down the stretch by George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) to get the win.
 
Trevin Parks led the Golden Bulls with 23 points, including going 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. Emilio Parks chipped in with 19 points, while Williams and Terrance Washington each had nine points. Johnson C. Smith was 23-of-48 from the floor for 38 percent.
 
The Lions continue CIAA action 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 5 against Winston-Salem State University at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium in the CIAA Game of the Week. To follow the action through live stats, click here.
 
Lions Notebook: With the win, Lincoln avenges last season's 80-63 loss to Johnson C. Smith…The Lions sank 10 3-pointers (George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) (4), Kenny Sharpe (Chester, Pa./Elite Academy) (3), Justin Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) (2) and Beloved Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Princeton Day Academy) (1))…Lincoln out-scored Johnson C. Smith in second-chance points, 22-5. And bench points, 9-8…The Lions were 11-of-16 from the free-throw line…Lincoln also out-rebounded Johnson C. Smith, 39-33…The Lions finished with 14 assists, seven steals and five blocked shots...With the win, Lincoln is off to its best start in NCAA Division II and won for the first time in three CIAA openers.