BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – For thirty-five minutes, the Lincoln University men's basketball team went toe-to-toe with a nationally-ranked team on the road.


 

However, Ferris State found its shooting stroke connecting on nine of its last 10 shots over the final five minutes as the Lions fell 82-66 in non-conference action Sunday. The Bulldogs connected on eight of their 11 three-pointers in the second half.
 

A dunk from senior Jordan Camper (Chester, Pa./Chester) capped a 16-3 run that gave Lincoln the 55-52 lead with 7:52 remaining. Freshman Bakir Cleveland (Newark, N.J. /University), who combined with junior Korey Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy) for 12 of the 16 points, pushed the Lions to the lead with a corner three-pointer.
 

Lincoln had six straight empty possessions, five missed shots, and a turnover, as the Bulldogs took control with a 14-0 run.
 

A team that came into the game averaging 22 free throws per game, attempted just six Sunday, all in the final 13 minutes of the game.
 

The Lions came out unafraid of the ranking or the road atmosphere, scoring the first six points. Lincoln maintain its lead for most of the game, never trailing in the half. With 1:45 left in the half, LU led by seven. But, the end of half woes reared its head once again. Lincoln missed both its shots, committed two fouls, including a technical foul, and turned the ball over twice as the Bulldogs scored the final six points of the half to pull to within one.

Ferris State opened up its first double-digit advantage with a 10-0 run with 13:55 remaining in the second half. Lincoln realizing it had plenty of time answered with the aforementioned spurt to reclaim the lead before the Bulldogs sealed the victory with hot shooting.
 

Junior Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals in the win. It was his third double-double of the season.
 

Junior Korey Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy) added 14 points, six assists, and three rebounds, while junior Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) finished with 10 points. Junior Alex Nunnally (Washington, D.C./Cesar Chavez Parkside) hit the glass for 10 rebounds, his second double-figure rebounding effort of the year.
 

Lincoln (3-3) returns to court 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, hosting the University of Sciences at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.