- Posted in All University
- Category: AthleticsCampus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA - Sometimes when you have the best player on the court, there is nothing the other team can do when said player heats up.
Junior Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) was the aforementioned player as he exploded for 11 points during a six-possession stretch that stemmed the tide and enabled the Lincoln University men's basketball team to get back on the winning side of the ledger with a 67-57 victory over Elizabeth City State Wednesday in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association action.
Blue, who was saddled with foul trouble in the first half, tallied 23 of his 25 points in the second half to lead Lincoln to the victory. He capped the game with back-to-back three-pointers as the Lions built a 10-point lead in the final moments of the second half.
Lincoln tallied eight of the first 11 points and the Lions never surrendered the advantage or even allowed the Vikings to pull even. The home-standing Orange & Blue built an 11-point lead with a 9-1 run with 6:14 remaining in the first half.
Elizabeth City responded with a 9-1 run of its own to pull to within three at the break.
The Lions scored on their first three possessions, all from the foul line, to gain a seven-point advantage. After the teams traded baskets, ECSU quickly got to within two, but Lincoln opened up a nine-point lead following a three-pointer from junior Korey Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy).
ECSU once again made one last run to get to within two, but then Blue had seen enough and simply took over for the victory.
Freshman Bakir Cleveland (Newark, N.J. /University) added 11 points and three rebounds, while freshman Ethan Garita (Trenton, N.J./Princeton Day School) – in his first career start – pulled down a career-high nine rebounds. Freshman Reggie Hudson (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's) added nine points and four assists.
Lincoln (12-5 overall, 5-1 CIAA) travels to Virginia Union (12-4 overall, 5-1 CIAA) 4 p.m. Saturday. The winner will take sole possession of first place in the CIAA's Northern Division.
