Four players scored in double figures as the Lincoln University men's basketball team won their third consecutive game and second straight conference game, holding off a late rally to defeat Winston-Salem State University 81-77 Saturday afternoon at Manuel Rivero Hall.
 
The Lions improve to 7-4 overall with the win and 2-0 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games.  The win also marks the first time the Lions have opened conference play with two straight wins since the 2014-15 season.   WSSU falls to 5-4 overall and 0-1 in league play.
 
Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) led all players with 20 points while grabbing a game-high eight rebounds.  Cameron Campbell (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian) added 14 points and Maurice Waters (Philadelphia, Pa./Constitution (Univ. District of Columbia)) chipped in 13.  Gevon Arrington (Petersburg, Va./Petersburg (Richard Bland)) came off the bench to round out the double figure scorers, adding ten points.  Tamir Green (Philadelphia, Pa./Constitution) recorded a career-high nine assists to lead all players.
 
The Rams placed five in double figures with Robert Colon, Julius Barnes and Jamel McAllister scoring 16 points apiece.  Xavier Fennell added 11 points while James Rucker chipped in 10.  Colon led the Rams with seven assists while McAllister grabbed eight rebounds.
 
The Lions held a seven point lead 36-29 at the half and pushed it two nine with Waters' layup to start the second half.  The Rams rallied with a 9-1 run to close within one 39-38 just three minutes in.  The Lions' lead oscillated between one and six points much of the next eight minutes with the Rams closing within one on two separate occasions and the Lions taking a six point lead three times, first on a traditional three point play from Jordan Camper (Chester, Pa./Chester) and twice on baskets from Williams, the last being a three-pointer at the 9:15 mark.
 
Following Williams' three-ball the Rams offense kicked it up a notch, going on an 11-2 run to take their first lead since early in the first half (7-5, 16:35).  Fennell's three-bal at the 7:16 mark put the Rams up by one at 62-612 and Colon added two free throws 30 seconds later to give WSSU a 64-61 lead.  Five straight points from the Lions, all from the free throw line erased the lead and put Lincoln back on top 66-64 with 5:320 left in the game.  The five points started what became a 12-2 run by Lincoln as they pulled ahead 73-66 with 3:06 left.   Layups from Green and Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) pushed the lead to eight with 1:19 left.  The Lions still led by eight with 33 seconds left when missed free throws opened a window of opportunity for the Rams to rally.   
 
McAllister's put back dunk cut the lead to six and following a pair of missed free throws by LU, he added a three-ball to close the gap to three, 80-77 with 18 seconds left.  Two more missed free throws followed and the Rams had the chance to tie in the final seconds.  Rucker's potential tying three-point shot however was off the mark and Water's added a free throw  with a second left to seal the win.
 
Both teams shot fairly well from the field (WSSU- 46.2%; LU 45.2%) with the Lions making six more field goals in the game (28-22).  Winston-Salem made 12 of 24 three point shots (LU 7-20) and three more free throws (21-18).  Lincoln also scored 20 points off 19 WSSU turnovers while the Rams had just six from a season-low seven LU miscues.
 
The men's basketball team returns to action on Monday, December 17, 2018 when they host Livingstone College for their third CIAA game of the season.  Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.