The Lincoln University men's basketball team fell behind early in their game against Winston-Salem State University but kept fighting throughout and coming within two possessions of the lead before the Rams put together a final push to defeat the Lions 80-67 Monday night at Manuel Rivero Hall.
 
The game was a non-conference contest between the two teams as the designated conference game was played back in December in Winston-Salem, north Carolina.  The Lions fall to 7-17 with the loss while the Rams improve to 13-8.
 
Four players scored in double figures for the Lions led by Bernard Lightsey's (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) 15 points.  Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) added 14 points and had a game-high six assists.  Deaquan Williams (Camden, N.J./Camden) recorded his 14^th double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.  Deonta Dunlap (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) rounded out the double-figure scorers with ten points.  Markus Stevenson (Voorhees, N.j./Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) (Angelina College)) came off the bench to add a solid eight points while grabbing seven rebounds.
 
The Rams made their first six shots from the field to go up 15-3 and never looked back building their lead up to as many as 22 points in the half before the Lions cut the deficit to 17 49-32 at the break.
 
Winston-Salem opened the second half with a 13-7 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 62-39 with 16:55 left before the Lions started to chip away at the lead.  With WSSU up 64-44 with 11:54 left the Lions went on a 17-2 run over the next 6:38 to pull within five 66-61 with 5:16 remaining.  Lincoln held the Rams without a field goal during that stretch while Williams came alive on offense scoring seven of the 17 points.  The Lions also got a three point basket from Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) and a traditional three point play from Blue.  A dunk from Jordan Camper (Chester, Pa./Chester) and a layup from Blue rounded out the scoring.
 
Following the run, the Rams countered with 11 straight points to go up 77-61 with 1:10 left.  Lightsey followed with a four-point play and added two free throws in the final minute of play but the Rams lead was just too big to overcome.
 
Robert Colon led three Rams players in double figures with 28 points.  Julius Barnes added 14 while Jonathan Hicklin chipped in 11 and grabbed a team high eight-rebounds.  Hicklin also had six assists.
 
The Lions return to action for their final home game of the 2019-2020 season on Wednesday February 3, 2020, as they host Saint Augustine's University.  Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.