ERIE, PA (March 15, 2024) - The first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament was held at the Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie, PA; the Lincoln University Lions faced a tough matchup against Gannon University. They concluded their season with a 97-63 defeat. The game was challenging and tested Lincoln's resilience, showcasing the high level of competition in NCAA Division II basketball.

From the start, Lincoln found themselves in a challenging position, trailing Gannon 49-35 by halftime. Despite their efforts, the Lions struggled to contain Gannon's offense while trying to find their rhythm on the offensive end. Lincoln shot 13-32 from the field in the first half, including 3-6 from beyond the arc and 6-9 from the free-throw line. They were notably effective in the rebounding department, out rebounding Gannon 25 to 13, with 12 of those being offensive rebounds, highlighting their effort and determination to keep the game within reach. Reggie Hudson (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's) led the scoring for Lincoln with nine points and also contributed two assists, while Janai Coates-Sinues was the leading rebounder with five.

Despite their first-half efforts, the Lions could not close the gap in the second half, eventually falling to Gannon with a final score of 97-63. The Lions' overall shooting was 23-64 from the field, 6-21 from three-point range, and 11-20 from the free-throw line. Although they started strong rebounding, they were ultimately out rebounded 47-42 and committed 22 turnovers, contributing to their difficulties in mounting a comeback.

Baker Cleveland emerged as Lincoln's leading scorer with 12 points, followed by Reggie Hudson (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's) with nine points. Freddie Young led the team in assists with four, demonstrating his play-making abilities. Janaie Coates-Sinues (Newark, N.J./University) continued to be a force on the boards, ending the game as Lincoln's leading rebounder with seven, followed closely by Ethan Garita (Trenton, N.J./Princeton Day School) with six.

The game marked the end of Lincoln University's basketball season, finishing with a record of 17-14. Despite the challenging conclusion to their campaign, the Lions displayed commendable effort and resilience throughout the season. Their performance in the NCAA Division II Tournament, particularly in the rebounding department, and the contributions from players like Baker Cleveland, Reggie Hudson (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's), and Janai Coates-Sinues highlight the potential within the team and set the foundation for future growth and success.