The Lincoln University men's basketball team got 23 points from Elijah Bush (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore (Essex County CC)) as they turned up the defense to defeat Chowan University 58-45 Saturday afternoon at Manuel Rivero Hall.
 
With the win, the Lions even their record at 10-10 overall and 5-5in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) contests.   Chowan falls to 7-11 overall and 2-7 in league play.
 
The 45 points allowed by the Lincoln defense equals the fewest points allowed by a Lincoln team in their NCAA Division II era, matching the 45 scored by Wilmington University against the Lions on January 19, 2009 (an 87-45 Lincoln win).  It is also the fewest points scored by a Chowan team in a game since the 2013-14 season.
 
Bush connected on ten of 13 shots from the field and added three free throws to lead all scorers with 23 points.  His .769 shooting percentage is the second highest single game average in program history in which the shooter makes ten or more field goals.  (Garrick Wooten .786 (11-14) 1/24/2008 vs. PSU-Abington).
 
Sean James (Newark, Del./Christiana (Iona)) added 14 points to join Bush in double figures.  Cameron Campbell (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian ) pulled down a game-high ten rebounds and led the team with four assists.
 
Tim Hewett led Chowan with 20 points.  Dino Muminovic led the Hawks with nine rebounds.
 
Chowan held the early lead for the first ten minutes of the game until the Lions put together a 10-3 run to take a 20-14 lead with 7:34 left in the period.  The Hawks came back and tied the score at 24-24 before Lincoln closed out the half with a 13-2 flourish to lead 37-26 at the break.
 
The Lions extended the lead to as many as 18 on three occasions in the second half and maintained their double-digit advantage throughout the second half.  Chowan would only come as close as 11 points at 56-45 with 1:34 left to play.  Gevon Arrington (Petersburg, Va./Petersburg (Richard Bland))'s layup with a minute left was the final points for either team.
 
Lincoln shot 42.3% (22-52) for the game while holding the Hawks to just 16 total field goals and 34% (16-47) shooting.  The Lions held a 37-30 rebounding advantage and forced a total of 24 turnovers.
 
The Lions return to action on Saturday, February 3, 2018 when they host nationally ranked Virginia State University.  Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m.