The Lincoln University men's basketball team honored their senior players on Saturday but nationally ranked Virginia State University put damper on the occasion as they defeated the Lions 66-59 at Manuel Rivero Hall.
 
The Lions fall to 14-14 overall and 7-10 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games.  Lincoln also finishes with a 3-7 record in CIAA North Division, tied with Elizabeth City State university.   The Lions hold the tiebreaker having swept the season series between the two teams and will be the #4 seed from the North in the upcoming CIAA Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
Virginia State, #19 in NABC coaches poll, improves to 24-4 overall and 16-1 in CIAA games.  They will receive a bye as the #1 seed from the North in the upcoming tournament.
 
Prior to tipoff, Lincoln honored their two senior players as Gevon Arrington (Petersburg, Va./Petersburg (Richard Bland)) and Myles Markland (Petersburg, Va./Matoaca (Richard Bland)) would be playing in their final home game as a Lion.
 
Arrington led all scorers with 15 points in his final home game as a Lion.  The senior guard also had seven rebounds.   Markland started and finished the game with four points in 13 minutes on the floor.  Freshman Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) added ten points, five rebounds and five assists.  Maurice Waters (Philadelphia, Pa./Constitution (Univ. District of Columbia)) led the Lions with eight rebounds. 
 
The Trojans scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back, opening up a double digit lead at halftime 26-16 as the Lions offense struggled, shooting just 24.1% (7-29) from the field.  Arrington was the most consistent of the LIU shooters, connecting on three of five shots from the field, including a three-pointer to lead the team with seven points at the break.
 
VSU expanded their lead to 14 early in the second half, before a 7-0 run by the Lions cut the deficit in half at 34-27 with 15 minutes remaining.  The Trojans countered with ten straight points to take a 44-27 lead with 11:46 remaining.  VSU's lead fluctuated between 12 and 18 points over the next six minutes and sitting at 15 points when Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) provided a spark off the bench with two straight three-balls to bring the lead back to single digits, 55-46 with just under five minutes remaining. VSU followed with six straight points to push the lead back to 15.  Cyonte Melvin added a three-pointer with 1:37 left  to give VSU a 17-point lead before Lincoln made one last run. 
 
The Lions connected on seven of eight free throws in the final 1:37 and Cameron Campbell (Fayetteville, N.C./Trinity Christian) added a three-point field goal to make the final difference seven points, 66-59.
 
Brandon Holley came off the bench to lead the Trojans with 11 points while Melvin and William Vedder added ten apiece.  Armond Griebe led the team with eight rebounds.
 
Up next for the men's basketball team is an opening round CIAA Tournament game against the #5 seed from the south St. Augustine's on Tuesday, February 26, 2019.  Tipoff is set for 6:40 p.m.