Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) scored a career-high 42 points as the Lincoln University men's basketball team dropped their second straight game at the Messikomer Tipoff Tournament, falling to host West Chester University 113-91 Saturday night at Hollinger Field House.
 
Lincoln is 0-2 while the Golden Rams improve to 2-0
 
Blue becomes the first Lincoln men's basketball player to score 40 or more points in a game since Dante Blanton-Holcom knocked down 49 against St. Paul's College in February 2008.  His scoring output is the highest by a Lincoln player in the school's division II era.  Blue scored 34 of his 42 points in the second half.
 
The sophomore guard also led the Lions with nine rebounds and two steals.  Freshman Deonta Dunlap (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) came off the bench to score 12 points, joining Blue ni double figures.  Markus Stevenson (Voorhees, N.j./Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) (Angelina College)) added six rebounds while Keynante Williams (Fredericksburg, Va./Rock Creek Christian Academy) dished out a team high six assists.
 
The Golden Rams led the game right from the opening tap and built 26-8 lead in the first 6:20 of the game making nine of their first 12 shots including four three point goals. A jumper from Moetaz Ashkar (Landover Hills, Md./Parkdale (Prince George CC)) and a free throw from Blue chopped the lead to 13 before the Golden Rams exploded on a 22-9 tear to take their biggest lead of the half 55-30 with just under five minutes remaining.  The Lions trailed 64-39 at the half.
 
Blue scored 12 points in the first seven minutes of the second half but the Lions could not make a dent in the WCU lead which oscillated between 23 and 27 points over the first seven minutes. The Golden Rams steadily increased the lead and led by as many as 32 with 4:19 left.  Lincoln closed out the game on a 14-4 run with a three-ball from Dunlap bring the lead under 20 at 110-91 before WCU countered with the last of their 17 three-point goals to round out the scoring.
 
Malik Jackson led the Golden Rams with 30 points (9-13 FG, 7-10 3 FG) while Robbie Heath added 20 points, six rebounds and six assists.  Antoine Lewis chipped in 14 points
 
The Lions are back in action on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 when they host Cheyney University.  Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.