Box Score Lincoln University, PA - Senior guard Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) exploded for a career-high 31 points as the Lions downed Virginia State University, 65-58 on Saturday, February 1^st in Manuel Rivero Hall. Washington made all 10 of his free-throws and made three shots from three-point range coming off of the Lincoln bench.

Virginia State held a small advantage throughout the first half over Lincoln. The Trojans shot 42% (10-24) from the field and made five shots from three-point range. The Lions made three shots from behind the arc, but won the battle from the free-throw line converting on 10-of-12 attempts (84%). Senior guard Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) carried the Lions offense with 17 points in the first half on 5-of-7 shots from the field and five made free-throws. The Lincoln bench outscored the Trojans 21-8 and rallied the rest of the team from a seven point deficit to tie the game at 29 at halftime.

Senior guard Justin Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) gave the Lions their first lead of the afternoon, 35-34 at the 17:02 mark in the second half. Junior forward Tony Efese (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional HS) kept the pressure on the Trojans by nailing one of his two shots from behind the arc to keep the Lions ahead. Lincoln forced nine VSU turnovers and improved their offense by shooting 50% in the final half to close out the Trojans.

Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) added 14 second half points to pace the Lions. Tony Efese (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional HS) had eight points and junior forward Will Cole (Newark, NJ/Cesar Chavez HS) had six points with four rebounds as Lincoln rolled to their third CIAA Northern Divisional victory with a 65-58 win at home. Lincoln continued to dominate the Trojans and got to the free-throw line throughout the contest. The Lions went 12-for-14 in the second half while the Trojans were 3-for-6.  

The last Lincoln men's basketball student-athlete to reach the 30-point mark was Denzel Mooney on February 24, 2011 against St. Paul's. Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) finished with a career-high 31 points; on 9-of-14 made field goals, a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, and 3-of-4 made three-pointers. Will Cole (Newark, NJ/Cesar Chavez HS) added eight points and a team-high five rebounds as the Lions bench scored 41 of their 65 points against Virginia State. Tony Efese (Spring Valley, NY/St. Joseph Regional HS) had 12 points, four rebounds, and three blocks while George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) had six points, four rebounds, and two assists.

Lincoln improves to 15-5 and 7-4 CIAA record with six games remaining. The Lions will host Southern New Hampshire on Tuesday, February 4^th at 7 p.m. in their final non-conference game of the season.