Blue, Cleveland honored by CIAA

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA  – The weekly honors for the Lincoln University men's basketball team continue to roll in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced today (Monday, January 24, 2022).

Junior Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) earned CIAA Food Lion Player of the Week, while freshman Bakir Cleveland (Newark, N.J. /University) picked up CIAA Food Lion Rookie of the Week. It marks the second time each of the players have earned the respective honors. It's the third time this season, Blue has been honored by the CIAA, having earned Defensive Player of the Week after the opening week of the season.

Blue averaged 24 points and five rebounds per contest over two games. The 6-4 forward was efficient as a scorer, shooting 68 percent (17 for 25) from field that included 69 percent (11 for 16) from behind the arc, and tallied five assists and one steal for the week. Blue scored 21 of his game-high 25 points in the second half to lead the Lions to a 67-57 win over Elizabeth City State. The junior forward is currently the CIAA's second leading scorer at 19.5 points per game. 

Cleveland averaged 13 points over two games while shooting 50 percent from the field, 38 percent from three, and 79 percent from the free throw line on the week. He also registered four rebounds, four assists, and three steals for week, helping Lincoln to a win over conference foe Elizabeth City State. Cleveland's best performance came of the week came against Virginia Union with 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting. 

Lincoln (12-6 overall, 5-2 CIAA) returns to the hardwood 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, hosting Shaw. Only Lincoln students, faculty and staff will be allowed to attend games at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.

Read more

Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU), educates and empowers students to lead their communities and change the world. Lincoln offers a rigorous liberal arts education to a diverse student body of approximately 2,200 men and women in more than 35 undergraduate and graduate programs.