Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) recorded his fourth double-double of the season as the Lincoln University men's basketball team overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat Johnson c. Smith University 66-62 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener at Manuel Rivero Hall Thursday night.
 
The Lions improve to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in league play with the win.  JCSU falls to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in league contests.
 
Williams finished with a game high 21 points (10-17 FG) and pulled down 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.  Cameron Campbell (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian) added 15 points while Tamir Green (Philadelphia, Pa./Constitution) and Maurice waters chipped in nine and eight respectively.  Green and Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) led the team with four assists apiece.
 
Cayse Minor led the Golden Bulls with 19 points.  Roddric Ross added ten with Aaron Adair chipped in nine and grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.
 
Trailing 33-25 at halftime, the Lions opened the second half with a 13-4 run to take a 38-37 lead.  Ross' jumper put JCSU back on top before another LU run, this one 11-3 pushed their lead to seven 49-42 with 9:17 left.   Williams' jumper with 5:19 left gave the lions their largest lead of the night at 58-49 but the Golden Bulls had one more run in them, scoring eight straight points to pull within one 58-57 with 2:39 left.  With both teams exchanging two points on their next two possessions, the Lions still held a slim 62-61 lead entering the final minute.    Green connected on four free throws in the final 55 seconds to seal the win as the Lions scored four of the game's final five points.
 
In the first half, Lincoln had jumped out to an 18-9 lead only to see JCSU battle back to tie the game at 19-19 and later 23-23.  The Golden Bulls closed out the half on a 10-2 run to take a 33-25 lead into the break.
 
Solid second half shooting brought the Lions back as they connected on 15 of 28 shots in the second half (53.6%) to finish the game shooting 44.6% (25-56).  The Golden Bulls shot just 26.7% (8-300 in the second half and finished the game shooting 33.9% (21-62).  The Lions were more efficient with their three point shooting making 5of-16 to JCSU's 6-of-27.  Lincoln struggled however from the free throw line making less than half the shots, 11-23 (JCSU 14-18).  Rebounds were essentially a wash (41-40 JCSU), while the Golden Bulls committed two fewer turnovers (14-16).
 
The men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, December 17, 2019 when they host Winston-Salem State University.  Tipoff is at 4 p.m.