Box Score Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) recorded his second straight double-double leading four players in double figures as the Lincoln University men's basketball team pulled away in the second half to defeat Cheyney University, 80-62 in the their annual "Battle of the First" game Thursday night at Manuel Rivero Hall.
 
The win was the Lions third straight, all at home and all against Pennsylvania State Athletic conference (PSAC) schools.  Lincoln is now 4-2 on the season while Cheyney remains winless at 0-5. LU's three straight home wins is the most consecutive home victories since the 2013-14 season when the Lions won their first nine home contests.
 
Williams scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while shooting a sizzling 85.7% from the field (6-7).  Sean James (Newark, Del./Christiana (Iona)) came off the bench to sink five three-point field goals including a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc in the second half after making just one of eight shots in the first half. James led all scorers with 15 points.  Elijah Bush (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore (Essex County CC)) and Gevon Arrington (Chesterfield, Va./Petersburg (Richard Bland)) rounded out the Lions double figure scorers with 14 and 12 points respectively. Arrington along with Joseph Gouty (Wahiawa, Hawaii/Leilehua) led the team with four assists apiece.
 
Jeff Lewis came off the bench to lead the Wolves with 14 points. Kyle Parker and Olin Ugo added 10 apiece.  Ugo led the team with nine rebounds.
 
Lincoln jumped out to an early seven point lead only to have the Wolves come back with a 12-2 spurt midway through the half to take a three point lead at 20-17.  The Lions regained the lead with four straight points only to have Lewis take it right back for the Wolves with a three-point bucket.  A 6-0 flourish from the Lions put the hosts back up by five at 30-25 before the team settled in for a four points lead at the half 40-36.
 
The Lions found their shooting touch in the second half, opening the period by making three of their first four shots from the field en route to an 8-1 run by the team to take a 48-37 lead just 3:07 into the half.  The Wolves countered with an 8-2 flourish to close the gap to five points, 50-45 with 13:31 left.  The Lions then took control going on a 23-6 tear and take their biggest lead of the game 73-51 with 5:12 remaining. James had all four of his second half three-pointers over the 6:34 stretch of the run.  Cheyney would pull no closer than 18 the rest of the way as the Lions prevailed 80-62.
 
Both teams made 24 field goals, with the Lions being far more efficient with their shot selection, taking 14 fewer shots than Wolves to finish the game shooting 42.1% (24-57).  This included a 48% (12-25) shooting effort in the second half.  Where the Lions truly dominated was at the free throw line and from three-point range.  Lincoln connected on 23 of 32 shots from the line while the Wolves made just nine of 14.   The Lions also made nine three-point field goals while the Wolves connected on just five.  Lincoln held a 46-41 edge of the glass while producing a slightly better assist/turnover ratio (15/13 to 11/10 by Cheyney.)
 
The Lions will return to action on Sunday, December 3, 2017when they travel to Queens College in New York.  Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m.