MEN VICTORIOUS, WOMEN DROP CLOSE ONE
Playing in their season opener Lincoln University (1-0) overcame the lack of an interior game to post a 73-69 win at home over Harris-Stowe State University (1-3). The season opening victory is the first for head coach Charles Terry since he became head coach of the Blue Tigers in August 2003. The opening night win is the Blue Tigers first since a 79-54 home triumph over Missouri-Rolla on Nov. 23, 2002.
A 3-point basket by Phillip D. Stewart gave the Hornets their largest lead of the first half 17-5 with 14:00 remaining in the first half. The Blue Tigers whittled away at the margin and were within four, 36-32 after 3-point make by Tremaine Wilkerson with :47 before halftime. A bucket by Mack Caldwell upped the Harris-Stowe advantage to 38-32, but a free-throw by Jared Boone with :05 on the clock put the halftime score at 38-33 in favor of the Hornets.
The Blue Tigers and Hornets each had 19 first half rebounds. Harris-Stowe won the board battle in the second half out-rebounding Lincoln University 30-17, 49-36 for the game.
Ralph Mata tied the game 51-51 by sinking a 3-pointer at the 10:51 mark of the second half. A jump shot by Sean Birdsong gave the Blue Tigers a 53-51 lead with 9:05 to play. It was the first lead for the Blue Tigers since a James Edwards basket made the score 2-0 at 19:43 of the first half. After the shot by Birdsong, neither team led by more than four points the remainder of the game. Lincoln University made 7-of-8 free throws in the final 1:57 to preserve the win.
Boone led the Blue Tigers with 21 points. Edwards and Wilkerson each had double figure scoring nights with 16 and 11, respectively. Edwards grabbed a team high seven rebounds for Lincoln University. Mata picked off a team high six steals.
Caldwell headed a quartet of Hornets to score in double figures with 24 points. The junior from St. Louis was one of two Hornets to post a double-double as he pulled down 12 rebounds. Melvin Martin scored 14 points; Phillip B. Stewart added 12 points and 17 rebounds (13 defensive rebounds) and Phillip D. Stewart chipped in 12 points. Martin led the Hornets with six assists and Caldwell had a team leading five steals.
The Blue Tigers play at home on Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m. against Central Christian College of the Bible (Moberly, Mo.).
In a game which never featured a double digit lead, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (1-0) held off Lincoln University (0-1), 60-54 on Nov. 15 in Jason Gymnasium. The Bulldogs from Weatherford, Okla. powered by a team high 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists from Andrea Oldham outscored the Blue Tigers 19-9 in the final 8:39 to gain the win.
Lincoln University has not had a season opening victory since Nov. 15, 2003 when they won at home over Missouri-St. Louis 63-44.
In a close, yet slow-paced beginning half, the Bulldogs posted their largest lead after two free-throws from Amber Hammock to put the visitors in front 14-7 with 10:35 left in the half. A 17-5
surge capped by a Brezette Elder-Wade jumper gave the Blue Tigers a 24-19 edge at the 3:26 mark. Lincoln University took a 28-27 lead to halftime.
Southwestern Oklahoma started the second half scoring with a 4-0 run to take a 31-28 lead 2:42 into the half. For the next 8:39 the teams traded leads, although it never was above five points (SWOSU 35-30 15:55). A 3-point shot drilled by Jessica Bailey capped a 12-2 spree spanning 6:03 to put the Bulldogs in front 56-47 with 2:36 remaining. Jasmine Washington kept the Blue Tigers hope of victory alive by hitting a shot with :15 to go that made the score 56-54. The Bulldogs staved off any heroics from the Blue Tigers by draining 4-of-6 free throws in the last :13 to earn the 60-54 victory.
Elder-Wade, who scored a game high 23 points netted 18 in the first half. Washington poured in 17 points for the Blue Tigers, 12 of those in the second half. Tiffannie Wolfe snared a game high 10 rebounds for Lincoln University, Washington grabbed six boards.
In addition to the team highs of 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists by Oldham, Grace Anne Jones scored 11 points.
The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Blue Tigers 34-30. Lincoln University had only nine assists.
Lincoln University plays Missouri Western State University on Nov. 17 at 5:00 p.m. in the Quincy (Ill.) University/Subway Tip-Off Tournament.
