Zahrion Blue's (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) two free throws with 7.9 seconds left lifted the Lincoln University men's basketball team to their second consecutive come from behind victory, 73-72 over Claflin University Saturday afternoon in Orangeburg South Carolina
 
The Lions improve to 6-13 overall and 2-5 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games The Panthers fall to 9-9 overall and 5-4 in league games.
 
Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) led the team with 23 points while Blue chipped in 12.  Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) recorded his 11^th double-double of the season (3^rd most among NCAA DII players) with 13 rebounds and 12 points.  Jordan Camper (Chester, Pa./Chester) rounded out the double figure scorers with 12 points.
 
Blue's free throws capped a rally that saw the Lions trail by seven with just 34 seconds remaining Deonta Dunlap (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) started the comeback after getting fouled while attempting a three point field goal, making all three shots from the charity stripe with 25 seconds left. to trim Claflin's lead to four. A quick foul paid off for the Lions as the Panthers missed the front end of the one-and-one giving the Lions the ball.  Lightsey sank a three-ball on LU's next possession, pulling the Lions within one 72-71 with 18 seconds left.  Another foul and another missed first free throw on the one-and-one gave Lincoln the ball back.  Blue drove to the basket and was fouled with 7.9 seconds left.  He promptly made the two free throws giving the Lions the lead.  The Panthers last chance in the final seconds came up short and Lincoln had now won three of its last four games.
 
In the first half, the two teams battled to an 8-8 tie over the first 8 ½ minutes with one lead change , three ties and neither leading by more than a basket.  Markus Stevenson (Voorhees, N.j./Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) (Angelina College)) put the Lions ahead with a jumper at the 11:10 mark, starting an 18-10 run by Lincoln that gave the Lions an eight point advantage 26-18 with 3:40 left in the period.  Claflin rallied with a 10-2 spurt to tie the score at 28-28 with 1:13 left and both teams exchanged baskets in the final minute to head into the locker room deadlocked at 30-30.
 
Both teams shot the ball fairly well over the course of the game with Lincoln shooting 49.1% (26-51) and Claflin 47.5% (29-61).  The Lions big advantage came from the free throw line as they outscored the Panthers 16-7.  Lincoln also held a 36-27 rebounding advantage, negating the effect of committing 18 turnovers to Claflin's 10.
 
The Lions return to action on Monday, January 20, 2020 when the host Elizabeth City State University in the first game of a six game homestand.  Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.