- Posted in All University
- Category: AthleticsCampus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA - With the game hanging in the balance, junior Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) simply took over.
The league's second scorer either assisted or scored on five straight possessions as the Lions broke the 60-all tie with six minutes remaining en route to the 78-68 win over Bowie State Saturday in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association action at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.
Junior Isaiah Miles (Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park) snapped the tie with a corner three-pointer from the Blue pass, then it was Blue with a coast-to-coast lay-up and a tip-in as Lincoln led by five with 4:51 remaining. He split a pair of free throws and connected on another driving bucket to keep the Bulldogs at bay.
Freshman Bakir Cleveland (Newark, N.J. /University) sealed the win by going 6-of-6 from the foul line in the last 38 seconds of the game pushing the lead to double-digits for the first time all game.
Not only was Blue serving as the closer, but he also put his fingerprints on the beginning of the game as he tallied 11 points during an early 17-4 run that pushed the LU lead to nine points midway through the opening half. The run could have been larger had the Lions not missed four of seven free throws over the six minutes.
However, Bowie State was able to claw back to within three points at the break. The Bulldogs carried their momentum over to the second half as they took a three-point lead just three minutes into the half.
As BSU started to feel itself, a backdoor dunk by Blue off a nice feed from Korey Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy) calmed the waters. Back-to-back buckets from junior Alex Nunnally (Washington, D.C./Cesar Chavez Parkside) and a layup from Williams gave Lincoln the lead back.
But the Bulldogs had one last gasp, taking the lead before Williams went on a personal 6-0 run, and Lincoln never trailed again.
Blue finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals to lead the Lions, while Williams added 13 points and four rebounds. Nunnally added 12 points and six boards off the bench.
Lincoln (15-8 overall, 8-4 CIAA, 4-2 North) travels to Elizabeth City State 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
