Lincoln University, Pa. - The Lincoln University men's basketball team renews its series with Central State University on Wednesday at Manuel Rivero Hall. This will be the lions fifth home games of the season and ninth overall. The Lions are currently 2-2 at home
The Series:
Wednesday's game will be the fifth meeting between Central State and Lincoln and the first since the 2012-13 season. Central State leads the all time series 3-1 and has won the last two contests, including a 73-69 triumph at Manuel Rivero Hall on December 19, 2012. The Lions only win in the series came two years earlier and home when the Lions defeated the Marauders 70-57.
About the Lions:
Lincoln University enters Saturday's game with a 4-4 record after a tough 81-75 loss at home to Holy Family University on Saturday.
Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) currently leads the Lions averaging 13.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He also leads the team with eight blocks and a .742 shooting percentage from the free throw line. He is tied for the team lead with three double doubles.
Cameron Campbell (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian) is second on the team scoring 11.6 points per game and leads the team in three point shooting percentage making 36.1% of his attempts (13-36)
Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) has recorded three-double-doubles on the season and is averaging 11.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He also leads the team with 22 assists and 16 steals.
Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) is averaging 10.8 points per game and rounds out the Lions double figure scorers.
Maurice Waters (Philadelphia, Pa./Constitution (Univ. District of Columbia)) leads the team shooting 55.6% (25-45) from the field.
As a team the Lions are averaging 79.2 points per game while giving up and average of 73.2 points per game. Lincoln is shooting 41.8% from the field, 34.4% from three-point range and 70.9% from the free throw line. Lincoln is also averaging 42.1 rebounds per game, 13.9 per game on the offensive glass.
Last Time Out
The Holy Family University men's basketball team rallied from a double-digit second half deficit to defeat Lincoln 81-75 Saturday afternoon at Manuel Rivero Hall.
Lincoln got a double-double from
Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) with a team high 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) had 12 points and a career-high nine assists.
Gevon Arrington (Petersburg, Va./Petersburg (Richard Bland)) also scored 12 points while
Tamir Green (Philadelphia, Pa./Constitution) chipped in ten points and dished out six assists.
Rookie of the Week Honors
Freshman
Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) was named the CIAA Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week for his performance during Lincoln's two games during the week ending November 25, a win over nationally ranked Kutztown and a loss to Seton Hill. Lightsey scored a career-high 25 points in the win over Kutztown and added 21 against Seton Hill to finish the week averaging 23.0 points per game.
Seeing Double
Williams and Blue have each recorded multiple double-doubles on the season. Blue notched his third of the season on November 27th against USciences with 12 points and 11 rebounds. He also had 16 points and 10 rebounds vs. Kutztown and a 14-point, 12-rebound effort at Shippensburg. Williams notched his third double-double last Saturday against holy Family, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. He also had 15 points and 17 rebounds at Millersville and turned in a 26-point, 10-rebuond effort against Seton Hill. The pair have the most double-doubles amongst all CIAA players.
Home Opener Win
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 Marauders
The Marauders are currently 1-7 and 0-4 in SIAC games. Central State has dropped their last four games, all conference contests. The Marauders only win came against Ohio University-Eastern back on November 18, 2018, 107-84.
Dwight Richards Jr. leads Central State with a 20.8 points per game average. Joining him on double figures for the season are Dorian Crutcher and Orion Monford. Crutcher is averaging 12.6 points per game while Monford is averaging 11.0 points per game.
Ton Johnson leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.5 per game. He is also averaging 7.25 assists per game, ranking sixth nationally amongst all Division II players.
As a team, the Marauders are averaging 72.13 points per game while giving up 78.63 points per game. Central State is shooting 42.6% from the field, 31.1% from three point range and 63.4% from the free throw line through their first eight games.
Marauders' Last Game
The Central State Marauders dropped their fourth straight game, losing to LeMoyne-Owen, 69-61.
The Marauders converted a respectable 50% of their field goals but 19 turnovers plagued CSU throughout the game. CSU also struggled at the free throw line making just 10 of 20 attempts.
Dwight Richards, Jr. led the CSU offense with 23 points while
Tom Johnson scored a season-high 18 points along with seven assists and five steals.
