The Lincoln University men's basketball team will play their sixth game of the season and their third at home when University of the Sciences (USciences) pays a visit to the Lions Den on Tuesday evening. This will be the Lions first game against a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) opponent this season after playing five PSAC schools to start the season.
The Series:
Tuesday night's game will be the 51
st meeting between Lincoln and USciences. The Lions lead the all-time series 35-15. USciences was known as Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science for all but the last six meetings. Lincoln and USciences have evenly split those last six contests 3-3 with the Devils winning last season in overtime 69-62 in Philadelphia.
The two teams first met on December 14, 1957 with the Lions coming away with a 91-54 win. The win was Coach Bob Smith's first as Lincoln's head coach and broke a 39-game losing streak dating back to the 1955-56 season. Smith went on to become the first African-American president of the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) and was inducted into Lincoln's Athletic Hall of Fame Inaugural class in 2012.
Notable Lincoln Performances vs. USciences/PCPS
- Lions Head Coach Doug Overton earned his first collegiate win vs. the Devils on November 29 2016, with a 59-54 win at Manuel Rivero Hall
- Sterling Wright became the first Lincoln player to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds for his career in the 1973-74 season; grabbing his 1,000th rebound in the first game between these two teams and later scoring his 1,000th point against Pharmacy in LU's second to last game of the season.
- George Turner set a school record for rebounds in a game that still stands today, grabbing 31 vs. Pharmacy on January 8, 1965.
About the Lions:
Lincoln University enters Tuesday's game with a 2-3 record following a tough 91-85 loss to Seton Hill University – their first at home this season.
Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) recorded double-double in the contest with 26 points and 10 rebounds. The Lions trailed by as many as 28 points in the second half but rallied to pull within three as time was running out.
Williams currently leads the Lions averaging 15.8 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) is averaging 9.0 rebounds per game and leads the team with 11 steals. Blue and
Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) each have nine assists. The two along with Williams and
Cameron Campbell (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian) are all averaging 10 or more points per game.
As a team the Lions are averaging 79.00 points per game while giving up and average of 80.4 points per game. Lincoln is shooting 40.9% from the field, 32.7% from three-point range and 68.6% from the free throw line. Lincoln is also averaging 42.6 rebounds per game, 15.8 per game on the offensive glass (leads the CIAA and is tenth best total in Division II)
Seeing Double
Williams and blue have each recorded two double-doubles on the season. Williams had 15 points and 17 rebounds at Millersville and turned in a 26-point, 10-rebuond effort against Seton Hill. Blue had 16 points and 10 rebounds vs. Kutztown and a 14-point, 12-rebuond effort at Shippensburg. The pair are the only two players in the CIAA that have multiple double-doubles so far this season.
Home Opener
Campbell's three point shot at the buzzer was the difference in the double overtime win over nationally ranked Kutztown. Campbell was one of five Lions to reach double figure scoring in the game.
Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter), in his first collegiate start, knocked down ten field goals (three three's) en route to a career-high 25 points. Campbell added 19 while
Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) recorded another double-double with 16 points and ten boards.
Maurice Waters (Philadelphia, Pa./Constitution (Univ. District of Columbia)) (13 points) and
Jordan Camper (Chester, Pa./Chester) (11 points) rounded out the double figure scorers for Lincoln.
The Lions rallied from 12 points down with 2:48 left in regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime. The two teams remained tied after one overtime and in the second extra stanza appeared ready to go to a third after KU tied the game with 4.3 seconds left at 91-91. Campbell put that all to rest, sinking a long three-ball from the right side as the buzzer sounded.
A Division II program best:
Williams recorded a double-double in the Lions loss to Millersville with 15 points and 17 rebounds. His 17 rebounds are the most by a Lincoln player in the school's NCAA Division II era (2010- present). The most rebounds a single game throughout the history of the program was 31 set by George Turner in 1965 against Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (now known as USciences)
Lions Split first two games at tipoff tournament
The Lions won their opening game of the season 75-65 over Lock Haven University at the Wolf Bus Lines Classic at Shippensburg University. Lincoln jumped out to a nine point lead at the half, 41-32 and never looked back. Ten different players scored for the Lions with Williams the lone Lincoln player to reach double figures, scoring 22 points. He also grabbed nine rebounds.
Three players reached double figures in the Lions' second game of the tourney, a 79-69 loss to host Shippensburg. Blue recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. Williams also had 14 points while Campbell added 12. Williams and Campbell were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Scouting the Devils
USciences enters Tuesday's game with a 2-4 record after losing both games at the IUP Thanksgiving Invitational hosted by Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Devils opened the tournament with a 79-46 loss to host IUP who is currently ranked third in the nation. Pitt-Johnstown then laid an 82-54 thumping on the USciences squad the next day.
Senior Brendan Crawford leads the Devils, averaging 12.2 points per game. Paddy Casey and Tanner Kerr are averaging 9.8 and 9.2 points per game respectively. Kerr is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 5.8 per game while Casey leads the team in assists, averaging 5.3. He also has 14 steals on the season.
As a team, the Devils are averaging 67.7 points per game while giving up 79.3. They are shooting 40.5% from the field; 35.8% from three-point range and 72.4% from the free throw line. USciences is also pulling down an average of 34.8 rebounds per game.
Kerr, a senior, made 6 of 11 shots from the field and led the devils with 14 points in their loss at IUP. Crawford added ten points to join him in double figures. Casey was the lone Devils player in double figures in the loss to UPJ, scoring 12 points.
