Box Score James Richardson (Jersey City, N.J./Raritan Valley Community College), Cameron Campbell (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian Academy) and Malachi Seney (Philadelphia, Pa./Harford Community College) came off the bench to score a combined 49 points as the Lincoln University men's basketball team almost came back from a 19-point second half deficit before falling to Johnson C. Smith University 78-71 Saturday at Manuel Rivero Hall.

The Lions fall to 2-9 overall and 1-2 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association games.  The Golden Bulls improve to 5-6 overall and 1-0 in league play.

Richardson was a perfect 6-6 from the field including a three pointer and made four free throws en route to his career-high 17 points.  Both Campbell and Seney added 16 points apiece.  Seney made four field goals (three from beyond the arc) and was 5-6 from the charity stripe en route to his 16 points, eclipsing his career high of 10 set last season against USciences.  The freshman Campbell also connected on three three-point field goals and five in all to goal along with a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line.  Richardson also dished out seven assists, the most by any Lions player this season.  Joshua Davis (Saginaw, MI/Louisburg Junior College) led Lincoln with seven rebounds.

The Golden Bulls placed five players in double figures led by Robert Davis' 22 points.  Cayse Minor added 17 points off the bench while Gabon Williams, Malik Ford, and Christian Williams had 10 points apiece.  Williams added 11 rebounds to record a double-double.  Davis also had seven assists.

Ford's second half alley-oop dunk with 12:37 left in the second half gave the Golden Bulls a 19-point lead, 59-40.  The lions then started the potential comeback with a 13-4 uprising to pull within ten at 63-53 at the 7:00 mark.  Richardson, Seney and Campbell were the catalysts of the run, accounting for all 13 points. 

A free throw by JCSU's Davis with 6:17 left made the score 66-55 before the Richardson, Seney, Campbell combo went to work again accounting for all 14 points in a 14-4 flourish, closing the gap to one at 70-69 with 2:15 left to play.  Campbell started things off with a trey and after a Ford layup added another triple.  Another Ford layup was followed by a pair of Richardson free throws and a Seney 3-ball, cutting the JCSU lead to 70-66.  Campbell was then fouled attempting a three-pointer and made all three free throws to pull the lions within one 70-69.

Baskets from Davis and Williams gave the Golden Bulls some breathing room at 74-69.  Carl Lane (Easthampton, N.J/Southeastern Community College)'s dunk with 1:11 left closed the gap to three 74-71 but the Lions were unable to score on their remaining possessions and JCSU went 4-4 from the line over the final 24 seconds to seal the 78-71 victory.

Lincoln's comeback was also fueled by a 52% second half shooting effort while holding the golden Bulls to just 34.5% shooting in the period.  The lions finished the game shooting 40% (22-55) from the field.  The golden Bulls shot 45.2% (28-62).  Lincoln held a slim 38-36 advantage on the boards but committed seven more turnovers (18-11) leading to a 20-11 advantage for the Golden Bulls in the points-off-turnovers category.

The Lions will return to action after Christmas for their final game of 2016, hosting Shepard University on December 30, 2016.  Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.