- Posted in All University
- Category: AthleticsCampus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA – Let the domination continue at Cheyney, Pa.!!
For the tenth consecutive meeting, the Lincoln University men's basketball claimed The Battle of the First with an 83-55 road win over rival Cheyney in front of a near capacity gym.
Four different players reached double figures as junior Bernard Lightsey (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) led the team with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting. Junior Korey Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy) added 11 points, while senior Isaiah Miles (Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park) – in his first start of the season – added 10 points on six rebounds. Senior Jordan Camper (Chester, Pa./Chester) came off the bench for 10 points and three rebounds.
Freshman Janaie Coates (Newark, N.J./University), who made his first start of his career, pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds with nine points and junior Alex Nunnally (Washington, D.C./Cesar Chavez Parkside) added 11 rebounds with seven points. Junior Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) dished out a team-high four assists.
Early on it appeared as Lincoln was going to open up a huge lead, and runaway with an easy victory in this heated rivalry game. The Lions were leading by 12 points and was holding Cheyney to just seven points over the first nine minutes of the game.
As Cheyney started to see a couple balls go through the net, the hosts gradually felt the swell of emotion from the crowd and picked up its intensity. The Wolves hit the offensive glass with vigor, pulling down six of their 14 offensive rebounds in the final six minutes of the first half and hit five straight three-points to trail by just six at the break.
To start the second half, it felt as if Coates was determined to prove he was the most physical presence in the gym. He hit the glass to get a couple of put back baskets. He scored seven of his nine points and pulled down six of his 12 rebounds in the first six minutes of the second half as Lincoln opened up another double-figure lead – this time a double-digit advantage it would relinquish.
Coates effort was part of a 21-6 run to open the second half and Lions' lead was 20, and the Lincoln student section was beginning to sense victory was in hand. The Orange and Blue continued to apply the pressure on both ends of the court and when it was all said and done, the Lions lead was a game-high 28 points with 37 seconds remaining.
Lincoln (5-4) returns to action 7:30 p.m. Thursday, hosting Wilmington in non-conference action.
