Four players reached double figures for the Lincoln University men's basketball team but they were unable to hold off a hot shooting Shaw University team as the Bears handed Lincoln their third straight loss, 86-80 Saturday afternoon at Manuel Rivero Hall.

The Lions fall to 7-16 overall and 3-7 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games.  Shaw improves to 5-17 overall and 2-10 in league play.

Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) led the Lions with 21 points and nine rebounds.  Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) added 16 points while Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) and Deonta Dunlap (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) had 13 points apiece.  Blue led all players with seven assists.

Lincoln held an early 16-10 lead before the bears battled back with an 8-2 run to tie the game at 18-18.  a layup from Williams and a three-ball from Lightsey put the Lions back up by five 23-18 and they increased their lead to as many as eight 30-22 with 5:22 left before the break.  Shaw trimmed the lead to three 32-29 with a three-point play from Alex Owens.  Lincoln however outscored the Bears 9-6 down the stretch and took a 41-35 lead at the break.

Shaw opened the second half making their first five shots, including three three-point field goals to tie the game at 48-48. The Lions roared back with seven straight points, five by Williams to go back on top 55-48 before a 10-3 spurt by the Bears tied the game again at 58-58.  Shaw took their first lead of the game on their next possession with a layup from Josue Kamba before the Lions battled back and tied the score again at 68-68.  Shaw's lead oscillated between one and three points and the Lions tied the score three more times with the final tie coming with 1:33 left at 77-77 via two Lightsey free throws.  Shaw made seven of eight free throws down the stretch to seal the 86-80 win.

Greyson Kelley led the Bears with 25 points while Nigel Martin added 16.  Owens added nine points and a team-high nine rebounds.  Imani miller led the team with six assists.

The Bears finished the game shooting 50% 930-60) while the Lions shot 45.6% (26-57).  Both teams shot well from the free throw line (LU- 17-20 (85%); SU 18-20 (90%)) and the Bears held a slim 32-31 advantage rebounding.

The Lions return to action on Monday when they host Winston-Salem State University. It will be the Lions Title IX games with the men's team tipping off first at 5:30 p.m.  The games have also been designated as Brest Cancer Awareness Day and Women' and Girls in Sport Day.