- Posted in All University
- Category: AthleticsCampus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA - Despite going unbeaten against Division II opponents in an abbreviated 2020-21 season, finishing second in Division II in scoring, and being the only Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association team to step on the hardwood, CIAA coaches decided the Lincoln University men’s basketball team was the fifth-best team in the Northern Division.
However, that doesn’t faze Lincoln University head men’s basketball coach Corey Lowery and his team because preseason prognostications mean zero to postseason success.
- 2021-22 Lincoln University Men's Basketball Roster
- 2020-21 Lincoln University Men's Basketball Schedule
As the season enters its infancy, the goals for the Lincoln Lions are very clear.
“We want to be in a position to be in every game we play, by preparing for every team, making sure guys are improving themselves, and understanding the game plans to be in a position to win that particular game on that particular day,” said Lowery.
Lincoln returns three of their top four scorers from last season, including preseason first-team CIAA guard Bernard Lightsey. He averaged 22.7 points on 56.4 percent shooting and a robust 62.5 percent from the three-point range.
If you think it was just a blip on the radar with a small sample size, you are sadly mistaken. The junior guard is a bonafide scorer. After missing the first part of the season, Lightsey was one of the most prolific scorers in the conference – finishing fourth in the CIAA with 18.7 points per game during conference action. He is the top returning scorer in the league. In CIAA play, Lightsey led the conference in three-point shooting percentage – connecting on 43.5 percent (47-of-108) of his shots, while placing second in the conference with 3.6 three-pointers per game.
He won’t be the lone weapon in Lowery’s offensive repertoire as juniors Zahrion Blue and Korey Williams can both put the ball in the net. Blue averaged 15.7 points, while Williams scored 15.7 points in the abbreviated season. It was Williams’ first season with the Lions.
Blue was a preseason All-CIAA frontcourt nominee and could have been one of the most overlooked players in the conference two seasons ago. After finishing 10th in the conference in scoring (15.1 ppg), sixth in rebounding (7.1 rpg), fifth in field goal percentage (44.1 percent), fourth in assists (3.6 apg), and fifth in assist to turnover ratio, he was still left off the All-CIAA postseason team.
In addition to his offensive skill and potential, Blue will be one of the primary defensive stoppers.
“They are going to be a big part of what we do on the offensive and defensive sides,” Lowery said of the trio. “Those three guys are competitive and they understand what it takes to win and they have bought completely into. They have proven they can make plays on both ends of the court. With their skillset and mentality, they understand what I expect, and they aren’t learning on the fly.”
While there is a plethora of talented options in the backcourt, they are all very youthful.
Freshmen Nasir Lett and Nasir Brown have an early edge because they were both with the program last season. Lett, who has been deemed the best shooter on the team, was the only one of the duo to appear in a game.
True freshmen Reggie Hudson and Freddie Young, Jr. will be competing for minutes at the point guard position, and they bring something different to the court. They could also enable Williams to see some time off the ball for the Lions.
Junior college transfer Amir Stevens, true freshman Bakir Cleveland and true freshman Vernon Simmons could compete for minutes on the wings. As with most things in a program coached by Lowery, the ability and willingness to play tough, rugged defense will dictate the amount of playing time is coming off the bench.
Anchoring the defensive philosophy from the frontcourt will be the quintet of senior Jordan Camper, junior transfer Alex Nunnally, junior Isaiah Miles, true freshmen Janaie Coates and true freshmen Ethan Garita.
Camper is the most experienced member of the Lincoln frontcourt as he is in his fifth season with the Lions. In the 2019-20 season, Camper averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds, while playing more than 26 minutes. After battling through an injury last season, he is back at full strength and ready to improve on his 2019-20 season.
Nunnally, a Bluefield State transfer, is a walking double-double after averaging 14.5 points and 12.3 rebounds just a season ago. He was fifth in Division II in rebounding. Miles brings a plethora of experience to the court as he is in his fourth season of college basketball. He averaged 11.3 minutes with 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in his first season with the Lions last year.
Regardless of which five have their names called as starters on game number one, and who finds their way in the rotations during the first week of the season. It will remain a fluid rotation as the season matriculates toward its conclusion.
Lincoln opens the season 3 p.m. November 12 against Kutztown in the CIAA/PSAC Challenge, hosted by Kutztown.
