Reggie Hudson, last season’s CIAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, delivered a standout performance, leading all scorers with 20 points while adding eight rebounds and three assists. His ability to take control in key moments was complemented by Peter Sorber’s double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Bakir Cleveland contributed 12 points, rounding out a balanced attack for Lincoln. Together, they demonstrated the same chemistry that powered last season’s run in the oldest HBCU conference. They also exacted some revenge on a Winston-Salem State program that beat them in the 2023 CIAA title game.

Winston-Salem State, 3-9 on the season, is in its first year under rookie head coach Corey Thompson. Unlike Lincoln, WSSU has just one player from that 2023 championship team.

Despite the loss, rebuilding Winston-Salem State showed promise, with standout efforts from Masaun Moore-Bryant and Micah Jones, who each scored 11 points. Abou Camara dominated the boards with 14 rebounds, but WSSU struggled from the free-throw line, converting just 50 percent of its attempts. The inability to capitalize on opportunities ultimately allowed Lincoln to pull away late in the game, as did 10 second half turnovers.

The win solidifies Lincoln as a top contender in HBCU basketball and highlights Julius Hodge’s impact on the program in his first year. With his guidance and the leadership of veteran players, Lincoln looks poised to defend its CIAA title when the tournament tips off in late February. 

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The irony of the moment was not lost on fans and analysts alike. Julius Hodge, a standout player for NC State in the early 2000s, famously clashed with Chris Paul during their college careers when Paul was a star at Wake Forest. Their heated rivalry epitomized ACC basketball’s intensity, with a memorable on-court interaction and fierce competition. Two decades later, Hodge found himself at the helm of a team playing in a tournament bearing Paul’s name—a full-circle moment of reconciliation through sport.

Lincoln’s victory was fueled by a commanding first-half performance, where they outscored Kentucky State 45-29. Reggie Hudson led the charge with 22 points, eight rebounds, and key defensive contributions, while Ethan Garita dominated the paint with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Lions’ balanced attack proved too much for Kentucky State, which struggled with shooting efficiency in the first half.

Kentucky State mounted a valiant second-half comeback, led by Lavar Miller Jr., who scored a game-high 22 points, and Aziel Blackwell, who added 21. However, Lincoln’s defense held firm in the closing minutes, converting turnovers into crucial points to seal the win.

With the Chris Paul HBCU Classic trophy in hand, Lincoln (7-5, 2-0 CIAA) continues its upward trajectory, as it prepares to get into CIAA play. Meanwhile, the symbolism of Hodge and Paul intersecting in this moment underscores the transformative power of basketball.

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Virginia Union University (Grade: A+)

• Preseason Rank: 2nd
• Final Standing: 1st (6-1 conference, 7-3 overall)
• Offensive Ranking: 1st in Total Offense (479.4 yards/game, 61 TDs)
• Defensive Ranking: 4th in Total Defense (295.2 yards/game, 22 TDs allowed)

Highlights:

• Jada Byers, the CIAA Offensive Player of the Year, dominated the field, amassing 1,497 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. He set school records with 5,311 career rushing yards and 70 touchdowns. This includes a single-game record of 324 yards and six touchdowns against Bowie State.
• Virginia Union clinched the CIAA Championship, defeating Virginia State in a decisive victory.
• The Panthers secured a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs, representing HBCUs on the national stage.
• VUU’s loss to Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), did not count as conference defeats due to CIAA scheduling rules impacted by St. Augustine’s absence from football this year.

Summary: Virginia Union showcased exceptional prowess on both offense and defense, leading the CIAA. This reinforced its status as a powerhouse among HBCU football programs.

Johnson C. Smith University (Grade: A)

• Preseason Rank: 4th
• Final Standing: 2nd (5-2conference, 8-2 overall)
• Offensive Ranking: 3rd in Total Offense (378.4 yards/game, 32 TDs)
• Defensive Ranking: 1st in Total Defense (246.2 yards/game, 17 TDs allowed)

Highlights:

• Head Coach Maurice Flowers was named CIAA Coach of the Year after leading the Golden Bulls to an impressive season.
• Benari Black, the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year, led a stout defense with 113 tackles. He spearheaded the top-ranked defense in the conference.
• JCSU achieved significant victories over Tuskegee and Morehouse from the SIAC, and delivered Virginia Union their only on-field CIAA loss.
• Despite their strong performance, they suffered a crucial conference loss to Fayetteville State.

Summary: JCSU exceeded preseason expectations. They solidified their reputation within the CIAA and HBCU football. The team combined a formidable defense with strategic coaching. This made them one of the season’s standout teams.

Virginia State University (Grade: B)

• Preseason Rank: 1st
• Final Standing: 3rd (6-1 conference, 7-4 overall)
• Offensive Ranking: 2nd in Total Offense (385.7 yards/game, 43 TDs)
• Defensive Ranking: 2nd in Total Defense (283.5 yards/game, 19 TDs allowed)

Highlights:

• The Trojans secured a notable win against Benedict from the SIAC.
• Bruno Onwuazor earned CIAA Lineman of the Year, contributing to an offense that averaged 6.3 yards per play.
• Defensive Rookie of the Year, Marquis Edmond, bolstered an already strong defense.
• Virginia State’s only victory over a team with a winning record was against Benedict, limiting their impact against top-tier opponents.

Summary: Virginia State showed statistical strength. However, they fell short in securing wins against leading teams within the CIAA. This impacted their overall grade. This happened despite their perfect conference record adjusted by CIAA rules.

Go to Page Two for more CIAA grades

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Playing 33 minutes, Hudson went 11-for-22 from the field, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. His tenacity was evident as he fearlessly attacked the paint and hit tough shots over Duke’s towering defenders. While Duke basketball is accustomed to handling tough competition from top-ranked teams, Hudson’s standout effort from an HBCU underdog added a unique twist to the game.

Even as Duke extended their lead with stars like Cooper Flagg and Tyrese Proctor leading the charge, Hudson kept Lincoln University fighting. Facing a squad like Duke, with its deep roster and top-tier talent, Hudson’s 24-point performance was a bright spot for Lincoln and a reminder that HBCU athletes can shine even against Power Five giants.

For Lincoln, a Division II program and the reigning CIAA champion, games like these serve as opportunities to showcase their talent, and Reggie Hudson’s night was a testament to the heart and talent HBCU programs bring to the court.

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Hodge is set to make his head coaching debut against the Duke basketball program that he battled in the early 2000s. He was hired in the offseason after Lincoln — one of two  schools that claim to be the oldest HBCU — parted ways with former head coach Jason Armstrong just months after he led the program to the conference tournament title and a bid to the Division II playoffs. 

Known for his versatile scoring and playmaking, Julius Hodge faced off against the Blue Devils multiple times during his college career, often in highly anticipated ACC matchups. One of his most memorable moments came in 2004, when he led the Wolfpack to a dramatic 78-74 upset over Duke, scoring 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Hodge’s ability to rise to the occasion against the storied program showcased his competitive nature and basketball IQ.

While Duke, under Mike Krzyzewski, was often a dominant force in the ACC, Hodge was never intimidated, frequently filling the stat sheet in games against them. His performances against Duke helped solidify his legacy as one of NC State’s all-time greats and a fan favorite, earning respect from both Wolfpack and ACC basketball fans.

Now Julius Hodge will start his career as a head coach against Duke basketball. Duke has played small schools in exhibitions on a yearly basis, particularly HBCUs and many times, the CIAA champion.

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The game started with Lincoln University scoring first. Quarterback Isaiah Freeman threw a big 69-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eli Riddick, putting Lincoln ahead 7-3 early on. It looked like it would be an offensive battle, but Livingstone’s defense quickly adjusted, making important stops and forcing turnovers that kept Lincoln from scoring again.

While Lincoln struggled to move the ball, Livingstone’s kicker, Jason Zapata, became the team’s star player. He kicked three important field goals from 34, 27, and 29 yards, helping Livingstone stay in the game. His final kick in the third quarter gave Livingstone a 15-14 lead. Zorian Wallace also threw a touchdown pass to Chris Brown, marking Livingstone’s only offensive touchdown, which turned out to be the game-winner.

On the defensive side, Lincoln’s Jahad Green made seven tackles and applied constant pressure on Livingstone’s offense. However, Livingstone’s defense made a key stop late in the game, preventing Lincoln from converting on a crucial fourth down. This stop sealed the win for Livingstone and ended Lincoln’s chance for a comeback.

This game between the two HBCU teams showed the determination and talent of both squads. Lincoln University’s close loss added to a tough season as it continues to look for its first win. On the other hand, Livingstone College improved to 3-2 and hopes to build on this momentum. Both teams fought hard, but Livingstone’s ability to take advantage of special teams and make critical defensive stops ultimately made the difference.

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Casey cheered for the FeFe’s at Lincoln University from 2015 to 2019, where she became a standout performer and served as the 45th Miss Lincoln University of Pennsylvania during the 2018-2019 academic year, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and molecular biology.

The FeFe’s, known for their energetic routines and strong connection to Lincoln’s legacy, helped shape Casey into the athlete and performer she is today. “They are some of the best times, some of the toughest times, but in the end, it made me a stronger athlete, stronger woman, and stronger performer,” Casey said about her time with the team in an interview with HBCU Gameday in January.

After graduating, Casey set her sights on the professional stage. Her hard work and passion led her to audition for an NFL cheerleading squad, where she successfully earned a spot, bringing her talent from HBCU football fields to the NFL’s national platform every Sunday.

Outside of cheerleading, Casey remains deeply involved in her community. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, she helps high school seniors with the college admissions process and organizes an annual 5K scholarship run to support aspiring students. She also volunteers at an All-Abilities cheer clinic, welcoming children of all abilities and making sure they feel included.

In 2019, Tamia joined the Philadelphia Eagles organization and thousands of others from the community to ride, run, or walk in the Eagles Autism Challenge. This event was dedicated to raising funds for research and programs to address the complex issues presented by the condition of autism. All participant-raised funds b went directly towards autism research and/or programs at beneficiary partners.

Tamia Casey’s story highlights the impact of HBCU experiences and the opportunities they provide. From her time at Lincoln University to her current role with the NFL, Casey’s journey exemplifies the values, skills, and strength that HBCU programs instill in their athletes.

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“I am thrilled to lead this Lincoln University MBB program as the new head coach, with eagerness to establish a team culture based in Discipline, Hard Work, Accountability, Respect, and Perseverance.,” Hodge said in a statement. “These core values will be the cornerstones of our approach, guiding us through every practice, game, and off-court challenge we encounter. Our appetite for excellence will never subside. “I would like to thank President Brenda Allen and Athletic Director Harry Stinson for giving me this great opportunity as well as believing in my vision for the future of the Lincolns Men’s basketball program.”

Hodge spent the last three seasons as an assistant at Arkansas Little-Rock under Darrell Walker, who previously coached at HBCU Clark Atlanta. He takes over a team that won its first-ever CIAA Tournament title in March under Jason Armstrong. Armstrong and the HBCU parted ways following the season, with the school initially announcing he stepped down before correcting that statement.

A New York native, Hodge is a 2005 North Carolina State (NC State) University graduate where he was a two-time All-American, the 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year and a two-time All-ACC player. He was a second-team consensus All-America as a junior and an Associated Press honorable mention All-America as a senior.

Hodge was a first-round draft choice of the Denver Nuggets and the 20th overall selection in the 2005 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. He played for the Nuggets and the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA and throughout Europe, Asia and Australia spanning over 10 years before embarking on a coaching career.

Prior to joining Arkansas Little Rock, Hodge spent three seasons at San Jose State, working with a number of All-Mountain West Conference selections during his time with the Spartans.

Hodge joined the staff at San Jose State after spending the 2016 and 2017 seasons at Santa Clara University as an assistant coach for Herb Sendek, his college coach at North Carolina State. In Hodge’s first season with the Broncos, Santa Clara produced its first winning season in four years.

His coaching career started at the University of Buffalo in 2015 as the director of player development. In his one season with the Bulls, Buffalo recorded a 20-win season for the sixth time in school history, successfully defended its Mid-American Conference championship and played in the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.

Julius is married to Latoya Hodge, and has two children, a son Legacy Hodge and a daughter Michaela Supreme Hodge.

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Coach Turner’s Vision: From Hunting to Being the Hunter

Coach Turner has a clear vision for the Lions.

“The next step for us is really learning how to finish, learning how to hunt, really being the hunter instead of being the hunted,” he said.

Turner’s focus is on transforming the team’s mindset and approach. No longer are they the overlooked team; opponents now know they’re in for a fight.

Offensive Firepower: Isaiah Freeman Leads the Charge

Isaiah Freeman, the standout quarterback, is at the heart of Lincoln’s offensive resurgence. Alongside dynamic playmakers like Malachi Langley and Zyaire Tart, Freeman is set to lead an electrifying offense against their CIAA foes.

Coach Turner emphasized, “From a coach’s perspective, I’m just like, hey, get these guys the ball. Don’t make it hard. Don’t make it rocket science. Just get these guys the ball and let them do what they do.”

The Lincoln offense was potent in the CIAA last year, racking up yards in chunk plays. However, Turner is keen on improving consistency, especially in critical third-down situations and red zone efficiency.

“Our next step is to get those consistent third and mid-range downs, being consistent in the run game, learning how to finish.”

Defensive Overhaul: Beefing Up to Stop the Run

Defense has been Lincoln’s Achilles’ heel, but changes are underway. The first fix? Special teams.

“We signed a long snapper and a punter, a couple of them actually,” said Turner.

This move aims to improve field position, which has been a significant disadvantage for the HBCU team.

Lincoln also focused on recruiting more linebackers and defensive backs. “We went heavy at the linebacker position because deeper in the season, that’s what we tend to get weaker at. We’re bringing in like 40-some guys, talking about transfers and freshmen, most of them on the defensive side.”

Fan Excitement: Building a Football Culture

The excitement around Lincoln football is palpable. After a long absence, the team’s success last season has reignited school spirit.

“Football was gone for such a long time that now people understand what it feels like to have football back,” said Turner.

Homecoming games and night matches have become major events at HBCUs. Before football Lincoln’s homecoming didn’t involve sports.

Eyes on the Prize: Week One Against Clarion

The Lincoln University season opener against Clarion is crucial. Last year, they started slow, spotting Clarion 21 points before finding their rhythm.

Turner knows the importance of a strong start. “That game is huge for us on so many different levels. We got to come out of the blocks.”

This game isn’t just about kicking off the season; it’s about setting the tone for what Lincoln can achieve. Beating Clarion would be a significant milestone and a confidence booster for the team and its supporters. A strong performance in this game would also be a proud moment for the HBCU community, showing that they can compete at outside of the conference.

Conclusion: A Team on a Mission

Lincoln University’s Lions, under Coach Turner’s leadership, are no longer the underdogs. With an explosive offense and a revamped defense, they are ready to make their mark. As Turner put it, “This year, what you will expect from us is a football team that really is on a mission.”

The Lions are roaring back, and the CIAA better be ready.

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Campbell attended Lincoln University from 2016 to 2018 where he played 17.8 minutes per game, averaging .341 in field-goal percentage, .237 in three-point percentage, and 2.5 rebounds per game. He was an All-CIAA selection in 2019 before he joined WSSU following the 2020 season. He was also a BoxtoRow second-team All-American selection during his time at the HBCU, making him the first All-American in Lincoln history (at the Division II level).

Campbell’s basketball career led him home to WSSU during the peak of COVID-19, resulting in a limited WSSU and C.E. Gaines Gymnasium experience. Despite the tragedy of the pandemic and the effect it had on educational institutions at the time, Campbell still had a successful season at the HBCU. He started in 20 out of 22 games, and was an HBCU Men’s Player of the Week recipient as he averaged 11.6 points, 9.8 in field goal attempts, .423 in field-goal percentage, .343 in three-point field goal percentage, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 0.6 steals per game. 

“It was a good year. It set me up for the rest of my life, so for that, I’ll always be grateful,” Campbell said on a quick break from shootaround at C.E. Gaines Center.

After successful seasons at Lincoln and WSSU, Campbell now uses the skills he gained from the HBCUs to excel professionally. Campbell has played on multiple teams overseas including Portugal, Ukraine, and Estonia. Despite his season in Ukraine coming to an end due to the disastrous break out of the war, he’s enjoyed seeing the world and the places basketball has taken him. 

“It’s a dream come true. Being able to wake up and do what I want to do every day,” Campbell said. “It’s the best job in the world. I’ll never have complaints about that. I’m hoping to do it as long as I can.”

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“In the weeks since Jason Armstrong’s departure as Lincoln University’s Men’s Basketball Coach, questions have arisen about the nature of his departure. The University retracts its earlier statement that Coach Armstrong voluntarily resigned. His departure was a decision by the University to end his employment. The University thanks Coach Armstrong for his dedication in leading the team to its first CIAA basketball title and raising academic standards for his players. We wish him the best in his future coaching career.”

Jason Armstrong was named interim head coach at Lincoln for the 2022-23 season and later named head coach for the 2023-24 season. In 2022-23, during the interim head coaching season for Armstrong, the team amassed a 17-15 record and fell short in the CIAA Tournament Championship to Winston-Salem State University. In 2023-24 the Men’s Basketball Team won the CIAA Northern Division and Tournament Championship for the first time in school history. 

Keyshawn McMahon, a 2019 graduate of Sterling College, has been named interim head basketball coach at the HBCU.

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The Golden Bulls will now play a total of five home games inside Irwin Belk Complex. It kicks off the season against SIAC foe Tuskegee University in the Red Tails Classic in Week Zero.

Johnson C Smith is coming off a 7-4 season in 2023, including a 27-20 win over Lincoln last fall. That game was played in Lincoln, PA. JCSU played in the inaugural Florida Beach Bowl against Fort Valley State University.

Rounding out the home schedules, JCSU will host the two CIAA Virginia schools, Virginia Union and Virginia State, a bye week before hosting Shaw for Homecoming and closing out the home season with Fayetteville State.

Both schools had an opening on their schedules as HBCU Saint Augustine’s University announced that it will be pausing its football program for the 2024 season as the school looks to stabilize itself due to accreditation issues. Lincoln was originally scheduled to play Saint Augustine’s on Sept. 14.

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Below is the press release from the HBCU announcing Jason Armstrong is stepping down from his post. 

Lincoln University (PA) Director of Athletics & Recreational Services and Interim VP of Advancement, Harry Stinson III, has announced that head men’s basketball coach, Jason Armstrong, has stepped down from his position, effective immediately.  Assistant coach, Keyshawn McMahon has been named Interim Head Coach.

“I want to thank Coach Jason Armstrong for his contributions to the Lincoln University Men’s Basketball Program,” stated Stinson.  “Over the past two seasons our men’s basketball program has seen unparalleled success. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

Both Armstrong and McMahon joined Lincoln University in 2020 under then head coach, Corey Lowery. Armstrong was named Interim Head Coach for the 2022-23 season and later named Head Coach for the 2023-24 season. In 2022-23, during the Interim head coaching season for Armstrong, the team amassed a 17-15 record and fell short in the CIAA Tournament Championship to Winston-Salem State University. In 2023-24 the Men’s Basketball Team won the CIAA Northern Division and Tournament Championship for the first time in school history.

Keyshawn McMahon will now serve as Interim Head Coach.  McMahon is a 2019 graduate of Sterling College, and was a key cog for the Warriors. He was ranked nationally in total assists and assists per game in both of his seasons at Sterling. McMahon also played for Corey Lowery at Essex County College, and they helped lead Essex County to a Region 19 championship and NJCAA National Tournament berth. McMahon joined the Lincoln University staff in 2020 as a stipend assistant coach managing player personnel.  He moved to assistant coach when Armstrong was named Interim Head Coach for the 2022-23 season.

“As we turn the page and continue to build upon the championship culture that has been laid in this program, we are excited for the future” added Stinson.  “We believe with the returning student athletes, the culture of excellence that they have embodied coupled with the leadership and guidance of coach Keyshawn McMahon, we have the opportunity to continue build upon the championship culture and vie for CIAA and NCAA Championships for years to come.”

The university will soon launch a national search for the next Lincoln University head coach. 

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Roots at Lincoln University:

Kai Gray’s football journey began at Lincoln University, where he emerged as a standout player on the field and a leader in the community. The values of resilience, teamwork, and dedication instilled in him during his time at Lincoln University laid the foundation for his future success. Reflecting on his experiences, Kai fondly recalls, “It was all about redeeming my name and proving that I belong somewhere on the team to make plays.”

Transition to the CFL:

With his sights set on the CFL, Kai Gray embarked on a new chapter in his football career, leaving behind the familiar confines of Lincoln University for the challenges and opportunities that awaited him in professional football. Adapting to life in the CFL was a learning experience for Kai, but his ability to embrace change and overcome adversity served him well. “I didn’t know what to expect at first,” Kai admits. “But I’m glad I gave it a shot.”

Rookie of the Year Accolades:

Kai Gray’s impact on the CFL was immediate and profound. In his rookie season, he captured the hearts of fans and pundits alike, earning the prestigious title of Rookie of the Year. His standout performances on the field showcased his talent and potential, earning him recognition as one of the league’s brightest stars. Reflecting on this achievement, Kai humbly remarked, “It was just a blessing… I’m glad I got a chance to experience what I did.”

CFL Highlights:

Throughout his inaugural season in the CFL with the Edmonton Elks, Kai dazzled audiences with his athleticism, skill, and game-changing plays. His first pick-six stands out as a defining moment in his career–a testament to his defensive prowess and ability to seize the moment under pressure. Recounting the exhilarating play, Kai shared, “It didn’t feel real… I just had to let my emotions out and enjoy the moment.”

Legacy of Excellence:

As Kai continues to write his story on the gridiron, his legacy grows with each passing game. His journey serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring athletes, proving that with dedication, resilience, and unwavering belief in oneself, anything is possible. “I’m trying to make much more experiences and leave a legacy,” Kai affirmed–a testament to his commitment to excellence and his desire to inspire future generations.

In summary, Kai Gray’s journey from HBCU standout to CFL Rookie of the Year is a testament to the transformative power of hard work, perseverance, and self-belief. As he continues to leave his mark on the football world, one thing is certain–Kai Gray’s legacy will endure for generations to come, seamlessly blending his roots at Lincoln University with his CFL success.

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Janai’s ride to success wasn’t smooth sailing. Reminiscing about his freshman year, he recalls the sting of losing early on. “I remember my freshman year losing like the first round,” Janai shares. “I knew I had to push further.”

But Janai’s journey isn’t just about hoops. Growing up in Newark, life threw him curveballs. Losing his grandma, his rock, shook his family to its core. “It was tough being away from my family,” Janai reflects. And then, tragedy struck again when he lost his mom on his birthday. “I was ready to quit ball and just work,” he admits. But basketball became his haven, helping him cope with loss and pain.

With steely resolve, Janaie Coates-Sinues found his way to Lincoln University, bringing his grit with him. Alongside his teammates, they embraced unity and perseverance. “No one can touch us when we play together,” Janai declares.

The recent CIAA championship win is historic for Lincoln University. But for Janai, it’s just the beginning. As they gear up for the regionals, he knows there’s more work to be done.

The love and support from the Lincoln University community are overwhelming. Amidst the cheers and high-fives, Janai stays grounded, knowing there’s still more to achieve. “There’s a lot more to come,” he says with a smile.

Looking ahead, Janai remains hopeful and determined. His journey is a reminder that with hard work and resilience, anything is possible. From the streets of Newark to the courts of Lincoln University, Janai’s story is one of triumph over adversity–a testament to the power of perseverance.

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The game featured four ties and seven lead changes.

It was a fairytale ending for Lincoln, which suffered a tough loss to Winston-Salem State in the 2023 CIAA Championship Game. 

“Every lesson we learned last year, getting here and almost doing it – built us and prepared us man,” Reggie Hudson, a freshman on last season’s runner-up, said after the game. “ It’s a seasoned, disciplined group. It’s special finally getting the job done. It’s not done. It’s March, we’re going to keep dancing.”

Fayetteville State finished the season with an 18-13 record. 

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Jackson State leads the SWAC with nearly 30k. That’s an impressive number, but it is a significant drop from its 2022 number. Norfolk State got a slight bump as it led the MEAC. North Carolina A&T got another sellout it’s first season in the CAA.

Here are the numbers of attendance at each HBCU homecoming game. All numbers were taken from official box scores from each school’s athletic website.

MEAC

Norfolk State-24,976

South Carolina State-22,269

North Carolina Central-13,626

Howard-7,684

Delaware State-6,300

Morgan State-Canceled

SWAC

Jackson State-30,947

Alabama A&M-26,391

Florida A&M-22,338

Southern-21,492

Alcorn State-21,012

Alabama State-17,995

Prairie View A&M-14,224

Arkansas-Pine Bluff-13,469

Bethune-Cookman-9,458

Mississippi Valley State-8,752

Grambling State-8,657

Texas Southern-6,352

CAA

North Carolina A&T-21,500

Hampton-13,811

CIAA

Winston-Salem State-8,200

Virginia Union-5,250

Shaw-5,022

Livingstone – 4,501

Bowie State-4,395

St. Augustine’s-3,719

Fayetteville State-3,680

Elizabeth City State-3,579

Johnson C. Smith-3,452

Virginia State-3,409

Lincoln (PA)-2,117

Bluefield State-N/A

SIAC

Tuskegee-31,726

Clark Atlanta-19,597

Savannah State-12,723

Fort Valley State-12,113

Morehouse-10,213

Benedict-8,589

Albany State-8,371

Kentucky State-2,898

Edward Waters-2,472

Lane-1,753

Allen-905

Central State-N/A

Miles-N/A

Other

Tennessee State-13,975

West Virginia State-3,954

Lincoln (MO)-3,333

Virginia University-Lynchburg-1,753

Florida Memorial-1,200

Langston-N/A

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BUILDING A LEGACY AND LEADING BY EXAMPLE

When you walk into Lincoln’s Chester gym, you can see all the banners from the basketball players. This sight has had a profound effect on Isaiah. It has shown him what is possible and has motivated him to do the same for Lincoln’s football program. The coaches and the positive influence they have had on him and the other players have been instrumental in shaping his goals.

The program hasn’t seen success but Isaiah wants to set a standard for what’s next. He believes in the power of discipline, dedication, and hard work. It’s about the little things, like excelling in the classroom, being on time, and putting in extra hours of practice.

With the incoming group of transfers and freshmen, Isaiah wants the Lions to pick up where they left off and continue building on their previous success.

Isaiah Freeman says he understands that actions speak louder than words. Whether it’s carrying bags or putting in the extra effort, Isaiah is willing to lead by example.

“You can’t just tell someone to get on a bike without showing them how to ride it,” Freeman said. “I feel as though you have to show people the way, you can’t just tell people what to do. Leading by example and showing them what’s acceptable at this level and what’s not.”

UNDERESTIMATED BUT DETERMINED

Despite being seen as an underdog team, Lincoln University is determined to prove themselves, according to Freeman, who calls 2022 a learning experience for the team. With majority of the previous players still on the roster, he said Lions are more disciplined and focused on the little things.

Isaiah Freeman says he wants to send a message to those who underestimate the Lincoln University football team. He wants them to know that they have something special in store. This year he hopes to show LU’s opponents what they are capable of.

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Lincoln University Director of Athletics and Recreational Services, Harry Stinson III, has announced the removal of the interim tag and official hiring of Jason Armstrong as the Lions’ 23rd Head Men’s Basketball Coach.

Jason A. Armstrong was appointed as the Interim Head Coach in June 2022, after serving as the Associate Head Coach for the prior two seasons. During his tenure as Interim Head Coach, Armstrong led the team to a 17-15 record including a historic run to the CIAA Tournament Championship Game, the first in Lincoln’s storied history.

“I’m excited to introduce Jason as our next Head Men’s Basketball Coach,” said Stinson. “Over the past few years I have gotten to know Jason and am a firm believer in his vision to lead Lincoln onward and upward. In his time at Lincoln, Jason has truly grown as a leader as evidence with our historic championship run that just fell short last season. His recruiting background, his ability to connect, train and lead young men is the overwhelming reason to remove the interim tag and name him our head coach. I’m excited to continue to be a part of his growth and watch him elevate the program to be a perennial CIAA Champion and NCAA Championship contender.”

During his interim season, Armstrong coached a pair of Lions to All-CIAA selections. Senior, Korey Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy) was named to the All-CIAA Backcourt and redshirt freshman, Freddie Young, Jr was named to the CIAA All-Rookie team. Williams ranked with conference leaders in a number of statistical categories including third in scoring with 16.8 points per game, second in free throw percentage (81.4%) and fourth in three point field goals made per game.

In addition to gaining accolades with Williams and Young, the Lions saw Reggie Hudson (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond’s) and Peter Sorber (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) also have breakout moments. Hudson led the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio and ranked second in steals per game. Hudson would finish the season ranked fourth in the CIAA in assists per game. Back from a season-ending injury during the 2021-22 season, Sorber ranked third among lead leaders in blocks.

Armstrong arrived at Lincoln after serving as an assistant coach and director of recruiting at Division II Dominican College for seven seasons. During his tenure at Dominican, the Chargers reached four consecutive Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championship games, while claiming back-to-back CACC championships 2019 & 2020.

“I am blessed and honored to be named Head Coach of Lincoln University,” stated Armstrong. “I would like to thank President Brenda Allen and Athletics Director Harry Stinson for giving me this great opportunity, as well as believing in my vision for the future of the Lincoln men’s basketball program. This past season, with the support of Interim AD Josh Dean and the entire Athletic Department, we were able to make history! The first men’s basketball team to ever advance to the CIAA Conference Tournament Final 4 and Championship Game. Even though it was not the outcome we wanted, there is no doubt in my mind that we will be back! The returning players are hungry and so are the new additions. The level of support is immeasurable, from the support of my family, previous coaches, as well as current and former players.”

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The 2022-23 academic year was a year full of transitions as Josh Dean served as interim athletic director and head football coach. During that time, Frank Turner served as acting head football coach and assisted in leading the program. That time created a new dynamic which fostered new opportunities to arise surrounding career advancements. With the return of Stinson as the Director of Athletics and Recreational Services, opportunities for elevation and transition were created.

Joshua Dean has served as the head coach for Lincoln University since 2018. During his tenure as head coach, the program saw unprecedented growth on and off the field. Academically, there was an increase in team GPA from 2.3 to 2.8. On the field under Dean’s leadership, Lincoln football experienced it’s first football All American (Achilies Ladut), over 10 All-CIAA Team selections, and two NFL hopefuls (Solomon Bassett and Kai Gray (Newark, N.J./Saint Peters Prep), currently in the CFL). Following the return of Stinson, a new position to serve in athletics leadership was developed, allowing Dean to continue his career ambitions in collegiate athletics.

In Dean’s new role he will assist the director of athletics with fundraising, alumni engagement and also overseeing all revenue generating events. Dean will also serve as a liaison with the football program and will help Coach Turner transition into the role of head coach. 

“I am thankful for the opportunity from our President, Dr. Brenda Allen, and Athletic Director Harry Stinson to become Associate Athletic Director,” stated Dean. “I look forward to working alongside our Athletics Director in our continued pursuit of championship excellence for our entire athletic department. Last season, I worked diligently to uphold the mission of the University as the Head Football Coach and Interim Athletic Director. Serving in these dual roles gave me an opportunity to advocate for the athletic department with the simultaneous needs of the administration, coaches, staff and student-athletes in mind.”

“I’m excited to welcome Josh Dean into my administrative team,” stated Stinson. “Josh Dean‘s new role will create a new opportunity to engage our alumni, sponsors and donors in ways we have not been able to do before. His connections and ability to connect with people will assist us in elevating our brand, while also developing more opportunities for revenue growth that will lead us into the new evolution of our department and creating a better experience for our student athletes.”

Frank Turner, who has served as associate head coach and defensive coordinator, has been elevated to head coach. Turner, who arrived to Lincoln in 2018 as a part of Josh Dean‘s staff, becomes Lincoln’s 25th head coach and sixth since the Lions revived the program in 2008. Over the last six seasons, the Lions’ defense improved dramatically under Turner’s leadership. Turner, who was a standout student-athlete, was a two time 1st Team All-SIAC selection, a Black College All American and an NCAA Division II All American. As a student-athlete, Turner was part of two HBCU National Championships, three SIAC Conference Championships and two NCAA Division II Playoff appearances.

Turner began his coaching career at Fort Valley State University in 2009. During his tenure as defensive line coach, Turner coached the FVSU defense to an SIAC and NCAA number 1 ranking in total defense. He also had five NFL prospects. Turner would join Josh Dean in leading the Kentucky State University Thorobreds from 2013-2017. During their tenure at KYSU, the Thorobreds was ranked 10th nationally in total defense (2014). In 2015 the defense improved to 2nd nationally in total defense, 3rd nationally in rush defense and 6th nationally in pass defense efficiency.

“I want to first thank Dr. Allen for giving me this opportunity to be the Head Football Coach at the 1st degree granting HBCU Lincoln University,” said Turner. “Thank you A.D. Harry Stinson for having faith in my vision to lead this program into the next chapter. Thank you as well to Coach Dean, for entrusting me to help build the foundation of Lincoln Football and helping to develop me. I truly believe that adversity develops character and a man’s character determines his destiny. Through adversity we grow stronger. We are the 1st, and we are the standard, Hail! Hail! Lincoln. With tenacity, grit, and relentless pursuit of excellence we will uphold the Standard. That’s the #thelionway, let’s go to work.”

Turner, a 2006 graduate of Albany State University, received his BA in Mass Communication with an emphasis in electronic media. Turner is also a graduate of the United States Sports Academy with a Master’s Degree in Sports Management. Coach Turner is the proud father of two sons Frank Turner III and Maverick Turner.

I’m excited to welcome Coach Turner into the role of Head Football Coach,” stated Stinson. “I’ve known Frank Turner for many years and his devotion to the holistic development of our students will continue to create a culture of excellence. Coach Turner has been an integral part in the transformation of our football program while serving beside Coach Dean. I’m excited to see him in this new role and to watch him carry the torch for our program.”

Demetrie McCray, who has served as defensive backs coach over the past two seasons, has been elevated to associate head coach and defensive coordinator. Under McCray’s leadership the defensive backs flourished into one of the top groups within the CIAA. In his first season (2021), the unit allowed just 190 yards passing per game and only 14 touchdowns (down from 230 and 34 touchdowns) and was ranked 3rd in the conference in interceptions. The unit also had a seven game streak of at least one interception. Also during that season, Rontay Dunbar (Brooklyn, N.Y./Freedom) led the CIAA in passes defended as a true freshman, along with two other defensive backs were ranked in the top 10 within the conference. The 2022 season nearly mirrored the 2021 season, with the secondary giving up just 187 yards per game and 14 touchdowns.

“First, I would like to thank A.D. Harry Stinson and Head Coach Frank Turner for this great opportunity and believing in me to take on this new role,” stated McCray. “I’m grateful to have been a part of the growth of this football program for the past two years under Coach Josh Dean. This program is trending in the right direction and we want to keep the momentum going. My title has changed but the mission is still the same…Attack The Day!”

McCray, was a three-year starter at defensive back at Albany State and was a part of nationally ranked defenses while there. He was a 2-time 1st team All-Conference selection along with being voted team’s best defensive back. He finished 5th in the nation in passes defended in 2004 and holds the school’s career championships (2003, 2004, 2005) and two HBCU National Championships (2003 & 2004).

“Coach McCray has been a great addition to our program and I can’t wait to see him continue to elevate our defense in his new role as Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator,” stated Stinson. “His ability to lead and inspire students is captivating. As a coach and former player, students get to see a real example daily in Coach McCray, of what it looks like to come from an HBCU, and to play at the professional level. I’m thrilled to see Coach McCray in this new role.

McCray, a 2007 graduate from Albany State University, also played seven years in the arena football league. He finished his career with 44 interceptions, three All-Arena selections and a championship in 2011.

“Change and growth is a sign of success and our department continues to grow in our pursuit of Excellence,”  stated Stinson. The changes within our department elevates our programs and our athletic teams while keeping consistency in Leadership.

“Coach Dean and Coach Turner served well during the interim period, which created advancement opportunities for their careers. I’m so excited for the transitions and elevations; and to see our programs continue to grow. Dean, Turner and McCray have each created a new dynamic and elevation of our football program, in their respective areas. In their new roles, they will each serve Lincoln in a different capacity but with the same goals in mind, to build a culture of excellence. The future for Lincoln is bright!”

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Oxford, PA, May 5, 2023 — Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU), announced the hiring and reappointment of Harry Stinson III as Director of Athletics and Recreational Services. Stinson, who served the University in this role from 2017-22, returns to Lincoln after serving as Deputy Director of Athletics for Internal Operations and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Delaware.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Harry back to Lincoln,” said Dr. Brenda A. Allen, President of Lincoln University. “Harry’s first tenure leading the Lion’s athletics department was filled with numerous successes. I have no doubt he will continue to work tirelessly to bolster athletics at Lincoln and inspire Lions pride among our students, alumni, and fans.” 

During Stinson’s previous stint at Lincoln, he played a vital role in the rebranding of the University and its athletics department — complete with a new logo, new colors, new mascot and new tagline, Learn. Liberate. Lead., as a part of the Reimagining the Legacy strategic plan unveiled in 2018. 

Stinson’s first tenure leading the Lions’ athletics department was filled with numerous successes. He increased the department’s operating budget by 20 percent and its athletics scholarship budget by 30 percent. He revamped fundraising structure for athletics and created the First Club as the official fundraising arm of Lincoln Athletics and launched an athletics online store that saw increased profits by 23 percent in its first four years.

Under Stinson’s leadership, several facility and renovation projects were completed, including indoor batting cages for the baseball and softball programs, renovated locker rooms for the men’s and women’s basketball programs, resurfaced the main and auxiliary floors inside Manuel Rivero Gymnasium. He oversaw the $2.1 million renovation of the turf and track surfaces at the Athletics Stadium that was completed in August 2022 and was a catalyst in launching the $30 million renovation project of the main athletics department facility scheduled for completion in 2025.

Stinson bolstered the coaching staffs across all 13 varsity sports and created seven new administrative positions within the department. His acumen in making coaching hires is evident in his appointments to lead the Lions’ basketball squads, who have seen unparalleled success, as well as softball and football who have created a new culture of excellence within the CIAA.

Stinson created the Student-Athlete Support Services office to enhance the overall support of student-athletes. In the first six semesters of the office’s formation, the overall GPA of Lincoln student-athletes rose from 2.76 to 3.02. Stinson’s emphasis on academic excellence paid dividends as the department’s NCAA Academic Success Rate rose to 86 percent and graduation rate improved to 66 percent. 

Looking toward the future and possible growth of the Lincoln Athletics offerings, Stinson led the way in creating club teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse as well as an E-sports program during his first stint as athletics department. Now, set for his return, he has sights on taking the Lions to new heights.

“I’d like to thank Dr. Allen for affording me this opportunity to return to Lincoln and serve this great institution,” said Stinson. “We accomplished a tremendous amount in my first stint, but during my time away, I felt there was more we could accomplish and I wanted to see it through. I learned a lot during my time away and, with this evolved perspective, I know we can remain focused on our quest to become a premier NCAA Division II program and continue to provide the best experience in college athletics for our student-athletes, coaches, alumni and supporters. I am eager to be a Lion once again and Learn, Liberate and Lead us into more success in the years to come.”

Throughout his career, Stinson has been dedicated to service to the industry. He has served on the NCAA Division II Management Council and served as Vice Chair in 2022. He served on the NCAA Constitution Committee and Division II Implementation Committee. He has also served as Vice Chair of the Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee (MOIC), onthe NCAA Board of Directors Ad Hoc Committee on Sports Wagering, NCAA Enforcement and Committee on Infractions Task Force, Committee on Infractions (serving as Chair from 2017-20), Eligibility Center Advisory Board and the NCAA Golf Regional Advisory Committee. 

Stinson has served on multiple committees within the CIAA. He previously served as vice chair and chair of the CIAA Management Council from 2018-22 as well as chair of the CIAA Basketball Championship Committee and Cross Country Championship Committee and a member of the CIAA Football Championship Committee.

Stinson is also a member of many professional organizations including NACDA, NAAC, DII-ADA and MOAA where he served on the Board of Directors. In 2021, Stinson teamed with Kelly Lewis to launch the Black Sports Professionals Philadelphia chapter where he currently serves as president.

A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Stinson earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 2002 while competing as a track & field student-athlete. He went on to earn his Master of Science degree in Sport Administration from Georgia State University in 2005 and receive an Athlete Development Professional Certification from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business in 2017. 

He is married to Rasheda Stinson. The couple has one daughter, Laila, and is expecting another daughter, Alycia Marie, in July 2023.

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It is the 13^th CIAA Tournament title for Winston-Salem State. The Rams were presented the championship trophy named for CIAA and WSSU coaching legend Clarence “Big House” Gaines. It’s the 70^th anniversary of the Rams’ first tourney title in 1953 with Gaines at the helm.

The Rams (21-8) won four games in four days to take the crown and now advance to the NCAA Div. II championship tournament with the CIAA’s automatic bid.

WSSU survives Lincoln comeback

WSSU 6-10 center Jaylon Gibson scored nine of his 11 points in the second half to help stave off the Lincoln surge. Six-two sophomore guard Samage Teel had 8 of his team-high 14 points in the first half as the Rams (21-8) built a 29-18 at the break.

Lincoln turned to full-court pressure in the second half. The Lions opened the period with a 14-5 run to cut the deficit to 34-32 with 11:41 to play on a fallaway jumper by Reggie Hudson. The Lions drew even at 34 on an inside layin by center Peter Sorber at the 10:59 mark. Lincoln (17-15) however could not take a lead. 

After a timeout, WSSU head coach Cleo Hill Jr., had his team go inside and Gibson delivered. He had two dunks among four baskets as the Rams went on a 17-5 run in a five-minute stretch that gave them a 51-42 lead with just 1:29 left. 

Lincoln fouled and stayed within striking distance cutting the lead to 50-47 on a 3-pointer by Korey Williams with just :02 seconds left. Two free throws by Teel closed out the scoring. 

Hudson led Lincoln with 14 points before fouling out with 3:43 left. Williams added 11 points and Freddie Young Jr. had 11.

WSSU’s Alston garners MVP award

Six-four junior guard Jaylen Alston, who had 8 points in the final, was named the tournament MVP. 

He had 9 points and played tough defense on Virginia Union’s league MVP Robert Osborne in a 45-44 semifinal win over the tourney’s top seed. He led the Rams with 16 points and 11 rebounds in a 60-52 win over Claflin in the quarterfinals. Alston had 16 points and 8 boards in a first round win over Saint Augustine’s.

2023 CIAA All-Tournament Team

Trey Richardson, Elizabeth City State

Kaleb Coleman, Fayetteville State

Bakir Cleveland, Lincoln

Reggie Hudson, Lincoln

Jamari Roberts, Shaw

Robert Osborne, Virginia Union

Keleaf Tate, Virginia Union

Jaylon Gibson, Winston-Salem State

Samage Teal, Winston-Salem State

Jaylen Alston, Winston-Salem State – MVP

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Lincoln (17-14) got stellar play again from its three-guard lineup. Reggie Hudson had 11 points, all-CIAA floor leader Korey Williams had 10 and Bakir Cleveland had 8 to combine for more than half of their total. The trio had for 63 of the Lions’ 76 points in a semifinal win over Virginia State Thursday. But their combined 29 points was enough to hold off FSU (17-13). 

Center Edgar Garrita was also a key contributor to the win over Fayetteville State. He had a team-high 7 points in the first half and tied for the team high with 11 points in the game. 

Lincoln vs. Winston-Salem State for CIAA title

The Lions’ win came after fifth-seed Winston-Salem State knocked off the other 2022 finalist and 2023 top seed Virginia Union 45-44 in the first men’s semifinal Friday. It sets up a Lincoln vs. WSSU men’s championship game Saturday at 1 p.m.

It will be Lincoln’s first trip in its men’s history to the championship game.

Lincoln grinds to the win

Both semifinals were low-scoring, grind-it-out games with the lower seed in each case coming out with the win. 

Lincoln scored the game’s first five points but fell behind 17-7 midway thru the first half. They closed the half on a 16-7 run however to enter the break trailing just 24-23.

The Lions tied the game at 31 on a baseline jumper by Cleveland with 11:11 to play. They took their first second-half lead at 33-31 on a coast-to-coast basket by Hudson midway thru the period. They would relinquish the lead just once down the stretch.

That came at the 7:18 mark when FSU’s Cress Worthy scored on a runner off the glass for a 39-38 FSU lead. Hudson’s layup :30 seconds later gave the Lions a lead they would not give up. FSU cut the lead to one twice over the final minutes, the last time at 46-45 on Tyler Foster’s three-pointer with four minutes left.

It stayed a one possession game for most of the final stretch. FSU trailed 51-49 after two Khalil Ridges free throws with :07 seconds left. They fouled and sent Hudson to the line. He canned the first free throw for a 52-49 lead but missed the second. FSU rebounded and advanced the ball to halfcourt before calling timeout with 4.4 seconds left.

FSU inbounded to Coleman whose 3-point attempt from the right corner clanged off the rim. Lincoln’s Peter Sorber was fouled on the rebound. He sank one of two free throws for the final margin.

FSU had only one player score in double figures, Ridges, who had 12. Coleman had nine and Foster had 7.

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The decisive stretch came in the second half with 11:43 left and Lincoln up 50-49. The Lions went on 11-2 run over the next three minutes to build the lead to 61-51 at the 8:36 mark. For all practical purposes, that run put the game away. VSU would whittle away at the lead, getting as close at 67-63 on a Zach Newkirk driving layup with 3:35 left. But that was close as the Trojans would come. 

Lincoln 6-5 sophomore guard Bakir Cleveland delivered the dagger with a deep 3-pointer with 1:13 left that increased the Lions’ lead to 74-67.

Lincoln guards take over

The Lions’ guards were dominant finishing with a combined 63 of Lincoln’s 76-point total. Cleveland finished with a game-high 24 points, draining all five of his 3-point attempts. Six-foot all-CIAA point guard Korey Williams added 21 points and tied for the team-high with 7 rebounds and added four assists. Six-one sophomore Reggie Hudson added 18 points, hitting 11 of 14 free throws, and also pulling down seven boards.

The trio combined to shoot 9 of 11 from 3-point range. The Lions were 9 of 12 (75%) from behind the arc for the game.

Lincoln shot 10 of 18 from the field (55.6%) in the second half.

VSU (17-11) was led by 21 points and 12 rebounds from all-CIAA forward Terrence Hunter-Whitfield. Newkirk finished with 13 points and Francis Fitzgerald had 12. The Trojans shot just 4 of 21 (19.0%) from 3-point range. They were 6 of 34 (17.6 %) from the field in the second half.

Lincoln takes the rubber match

The ­team’s split in two regular season contests that were each decided by single digits. It was not much different this time. Both teams built leads only to see the other stage comebacks.  Williams had 10 of his 13 first-half points early as Lincoln led by eight in the first half, at 15-7. 

Down 22-16 at the 9:32 mark, Fitzgerald canned a 3-pointer to pull the Trojans within 22-21. It was part of a 13-0 run over a 4:21 span that saw VSU surge ahead 29-22. Lincoln fought back to tie the game at 29 and at 31. Hunter-Whitfield’s bucket in the lane just before the halftime buzzer sent VSU into the break with a 36-33 lead.

Hunter-Whitfield had 10 points and Newkirk had nine to lead VSU in the first half. 

The Lions (15-14), who had an 82-50 opening round win over J. C. Smith Wednesday, advance to Friday’s 6 p.m. semifinals where they will face second-seeded Fayetteville State. 

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Courtesy of Lincoln Athletics

BALTIMORE, Md. — The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania men’s basketball program made quick work of Johnson C. Smith, outscoring the Golden Bulls by 21 in the second half to move on to the Quarterfinals of the CIAA Tournament to face #3 Virginia State on Thursday at 6 p.m.

It was the first triumph in the conference tournament for the guys since beating Winston-Salem State (67-65) on February 23, 2016, snapping a five-season drought.

What You Need to Know:

• Score: Lincoln (PA) 82 | Johnson C. Smith 50

• Records: Lincoln-PA (15-14, 8-8 CIAA) | Johnson C. Smith (9-17, 5-11 CIAA)

• Location: Baltimore, Maryland — CFG Bank Arena

• Winning Streak: Lincoln-PA (W3) | Johnson C. Smith’s Last Win: December 14, 2019 (66-64)

Lincoln (PA) Top Performers:

• CIAA All-Rookie Team selection Freddie Young, Jr. (Ewing, N.J./Trenton Catholic) tied for the team’s most assists in a single game this year, dropping a season/contest-best seven dimes to go along with ten points, a game-high three steals, and two boards while going 4-for-6 (66.7%) on field goals in just 24 floor minutes.

• Bakir Cleveland (Newark, N.J./University) sank a career/game-most three long balls, dropped a Lion-leading 15 points, shot 60% (6-of-10), and recorded a trio of rebounds as well as assists.

• Marshall Roberson (Charlotte, NC/West Mecklenburg) set new personal-bests on the morning with nine points, four buckets, four boards, and two steals.

• Janaie Coates-Sinues (Newark, N.J./University) logged his third career multi-block outing (2), the only Lion with multiple rejections while Khimani Hopkinson (Lauderhill, Fla./Dillard) swatted his third career block on top of a season-high four points, and Korey Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy) had a blocked shot for the second straight game despite not having one throughout his career prior to.

• A member of the All-CIAA Backcourt, Williams went for 14 points courtesy of making half of his 12 field goal attempts in the opening game of the CIAA Tournament.

• Reggie Hudson (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond’s) notched at least five assists (5) for the seventh time in 2022-23, contributing 13 points as well to be the fourth Lion to score in double-figures.

• Peter Sorber (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) tied for the game’s rebounding lead, grabbing nine boards with four points and a block to boot.

Notes:

• The Lions recorded season-highs for both field goals (35) and assists (20) in the victory, shooting 52.2% from the field (35-for-67) with nine more dimes than the Golden Bulls (11).

• LU of PA surrendered only two made three-pointers, the second-lowest in 2022-23, and 26 rebounds, the fewest by an opponent on the campaign.

• Lincoln gave up 50 points or less for the third time on the season and dominated in the rebounding department for a monstrous +16 margin (42-26).

Next:

• The Orange and Blue will take on the third-seeded Virginia State Trojans on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in the Quarterfinals of the CIAA Tournament, splitting the two matchups in the regular season with each team winning on their home floor.

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Virginia Union University’s Mahzi Thames scored a team-high 15 points, but Lincoln University of Pennsylvania defeated the Panthers 85-77 on Thursday, February 9, in Lincoln University, Pa.

VUU’s Robert Osborne recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds while teammate Keleaf Tate added 13 points of his own.

Virginia Union’s Raemaad Wright scored 11 points in the game.

“Anytime you’re playing on the road in the CIAA you must be prepared mentally and physically for a tough game,” said VUU Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jay Butler.  “I thought we struggled in those areas tonight and that was difference in the ball game.  We have to get back to playing Virginia Union basketball this Saturday against Bowie State.”

The loss dropped VUU to 19-6 on the season and marked the Panthers’ first CIAA divisional loss of the season.  VUU dropped into a virtual tie with Virginia State University for first place in the Northern Division of the CIAA.  Both VUU and VSU have identical 9-4 records with three games left to play.

Virginia Union will now return home to Barco-Stevens Hall to face Bowie State University on national television at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, in Richmond, Va.

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The game was intense – if not competitive – from start to finish. Lincoln students arrived back on campus from Thanksgiving Break just in time to fill the orange bleachers in the intimate setting and make things hostile for the folks who bothered to venture over from Cheyney. Not just the opposing players, but even the Cheyney Cheerleaders weren’t immune from hearing boos.

One thing both Cheyney and Lincoln University did come together on was honoring the memory of Eugene “Gene” Lett Sr., a former Lincoln assistant and Cheyney alumnus who passed suddenly at the beginning of the week. Lincoln players warmed up in t-shirts with his photo on the front and a message on the back, and both Cheyney’s Terrell Stokes and Lincoln’s Jason A. Armstrong coached with those t-shirts. 

“He is a staple in Philly coaching basketball,” Armstrong said after coaching his team to an 86-41 win. “A man that was amongst leadership in Philly, teaching young people, mentoring young people. He was well known. He coached here at Lincoln. He also graduated from Cheyney.”

Gene Lett passed away after collapsing following a basketball game on Nov. 20.  His death was felt within the program as well as in the greater Pennsylvania area all the way back to Philadelphia. 

“We went to his funeral on Wednesday. His father came to the games, he supported the program. I literally talked to him two days before he passed. He passed away on Sunday. And we were just talking about basketball. He was a basketball mind. He coached. And just a great dude.”

Lett, Sr. had a direct tie to this year’s team. As direct as you can get. His son, Nas, is a sophomore guard at Lincoln University.

“We wanted to honor Nas and his family by doing the shirts. And we have “Rest In Peace, Mr. Lett” on the back,” Armstrong continued. “We wanted to honor his dad, especially with this game being “The Battle of the First, knowing that his dad coached at Lincoln and then also graduated from Cheyney and then his son (Eugene Lett) Junior also coached at Lincoln. So we wanted to honor his dad today.”

Needless to say, Nasir Lett has had an emotional week. The week before, his father was doing the things that he loved – being a rock in his community and playing basketball. Sunday he started his first collegiate game with his father not on the stands, where he would have undoubtedly been, but on the back of the shirts he and his teammates wore to warm up in. So much changed in his world over the course of those 170-odd hours.

Lett started in place of Korey Williams, the team’s leading scorer and lone senior – a decision that Armstrong felt was appropriate and one that Williams understood. 

“I wanted Nas Lett to start,” he said. “Korey was okay with that, and was fine with that. So that’s leadership.”

Lett scored five points and grabbed five rebounds in 25 minutes on Sunday. He didn’t have much to say after the game –  understandably – but he did light up when talking about the support his teammates have given him so far. 

“Speechless, really. They call me… call me every single day, checked on me even after the UDC game (on Saturday). They wasn’t even worried about the win. They were just happy that I was here. Cheering me on, you know, just giving me motivation. 

No doubt, the young man will need that continued support in the days moving forward. Sitting on the bleachers following the win, Nas Lett contemplated what this game – basketball in general and “The Battle of the First” in particular – meant to his father, who hit the game winner in the final game of his some 170-odd hours earlier.

“He never missed a Cheyney game,” Lett reflected on his father. “I would say this game…this game meant a lot to him.” 

While there is no doubt so much more that can be said about Gene Lett, his son’s assessment was a fitting last word.

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“This was great exposure for our guys, our families, our friends to come out and see some good HBCU basketball this weekend with Bluefield, UDC ourselves and Cheyney,” interim head coach Jason A. Armstrong said after the game. “It was a great opportunity for guys to showcase their skills on a positive network. And so we love the opportunity for and we definitely would love the opportunity to do it again and bring in some more teams, some more HBCUs next year.”

Leading the way for Lincoln was Korey Williams, who scored 19 points in 18 minutes after scoring 21 points in Saturday’s game against UDC. He was named the HBCU Gameday Classic Most Valuable Player for his performance in the tournament. Gabe Harris was two blocks shy of a triple-double, putting up 17 points and 11 rebounds to go along with his eight blocks.

Armstrong has known Williams since he was in ninth grade, as both men attended the same high school. When former head Coach Corey Lowery added him on to the staff, he signed Williams out of JUCO ball. 

“I recruited him to come here when we needed a point guard when Corey asked me to be on the staff. Just the development of Korey, the leadership that we asked him to bring as a senior – a fifth year senior at that – and just the development and the leadership that I’ve asked him to bring every day to it, on the court, off the court, in practice, in games, and just seeing stuff on the floor. His game play this weekend was great. We couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Williams’ senior leadership is necessary on a squad that doesn’t have much of it. 

“I love the way that they’re developing and they’re growing together. You don’t have like one person. We have a plethora of guys that on any given night, somebody could give you 20, and that’s the best part about it because you don’t know who’s going to hurt you that night.”

Lincoln went 2-0 on the weekend, beating UDC 75-74. Bluefield State went 2-0 as well over the weekend, surviving a 96-95 barnburner against UDC on Sunday night. 

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CIAA members Winston-Salem State University, Bowie State University and Lincoln (Pa.) University will take their men’s squads to the area that birthed the famed Harlem Renaissance. They will play in three afternoon and evening matches against tough NCAA Div. II teams from the Northeast in what is dubbed the “Harlem Renaissance Classic.”

Thomas Jefferson University out of Philadelphia and Felician University of Rutherford, New Jersey play in the Central Atlantic Athletic Conference (CAAC). St. Thomas Aquinas College, from Sparkill, NY in the New York City metro area, competes in the East Coast Conference (ECC)..

The games

The games will be played at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. at the Nat Holman Gym at the City College of New York (CCNY) in Harlem.

The main campus of CCNY is comprised of 36 tree-lined acres running from 133^rd Street to 140^th Street in Harlem, bounded by St. Nicholas Terrance and St. Nicholas Park on the east and Amsterdam Avenue on the west.

HBCU basketball: WSSU vs. Thomas Jefferson

It will be Rams vs. Rams when WSSU (2-1) faces Thomas Jefferson (2-1) in the 3 p.m. opener.

Jefferson finished 21-6 overall last season and 16-2 in the CAAC. TJU lost to Dominican (87-84 in OT) in the CAAC Tournament semifinals. Jimmy Reilly is in his first year leading Felician after 15 years as an assistant to Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee. Erik Temko is the top scorer at 17.7 points per game.

WSSU is coached by fourth-year head man Cleo Hill Jr. The Rams finished 19-7 last season, 12-3 in the CIAA and lost to Virginia Union (71-59) in the CIAA Tournament semifinals.

Six-four junior guard Jaylen Alston is leading the Rams in scoring (17.1 ppg.) and rebounding (10.5 rpg.)

HBCU basketball: Bowie State vs. Felician

Bowie State (1-2) takes the court at 5 p.m. Saturday vs. Felician (2-1).

Felician finished 19-10 last season, 11-6 in the CAAC. The Golden Falcons out of Rutherford, New Jersey, defeated favored Dominican (65-64) to win the CAAC tournament. They made the East Region playoff field but lost in the first round to Bentley (95-63). Head coach Ivan Lewis leads Felician. Six-two redshirt senior guard Jaylen Colon leads the Falcons at 17.7 points per game.

BSU was 8-21 last season under now 11th-year head coach Darrell Brooks. The Bulldogs finished 8-11 in CIAA play. BSU has four players averaging in double-digits led by 16.3 points per game by 6-1 junior point guard Mark Bradshaw.

HBCU basketball: Lincoln vs. Thomas Aquinas

Lincoln (2-1) plays Thomas Aquinas College (2-1) in 7 p.m. finale.

Aquinas finished 28-5 in the 2021-22 season after winning the ECC regular season and tournament titles. The Spartans season ended with a loss to Bentley (82-75) in the East Region finals. They were 25^th last season in the final NABC NCAA Div. II national poll. Tobin Anderson, who took Aquinas to seven straight NCAA Div. II appearances, left to become head coach at Div. I Farleigh Dickinson. Former assistant Matt Capel is the new head coach.

DeVante Jamison leads the Spaartans’ scoring attack at 16.0 points per game. Six-seven freshman James Patterson leads STAC rebounders at 8.7 per game.

James Armstrong is Lincoln’s interim head coach. The Lions were 18-5 overall, 11-5 in CIAA play a season ago under head coach Corey Lowery. Six-foot senior point guard Korey Williams is averaging 27.0 points per game thru the Lions’ three games.

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The forecast track issued by the National Hurricane Center shows Ian, currently a category 3 hurricane and expected to strengthen, will be reduced to a tropical depression by the time its remains pass through central South Carolina on Saturday. That would mean heavy rains for the area, likely to occur during the game.

“Due to the potential impact of the hurricane on Columbia and the surrounding area, it is in the best interest of safety to play the game on Thursday rather than Saturday afternoon,” South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner said in a news release.

“I appreciate the cooperation of South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough, the South Carolina State administration and the Southeastern Conference officials who worked closely to make the appropriate operational adjustments in order to accommodate this change in the schedule,” Tanner said.

The game was scheduled to be televised, and Tanner says an announcement on that was expected later on Tuesday.

All tickets issued for Saturday will be honored on Thursday night, according to the school. A reunion honoring the 2010-13 football teams at South Carolina has been postponed.

Other HBCU football games impacted by Hurricane Ian

Multiple HBCUs were pondering their plans on Monday as Ian posed an increasing threat to the footprint of multiple athletic conferences. In the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Fayetteville State announced that its game with Chowan, has been moved to Thursday. The game between Elizabeth City State and Johnson C. Smith will also be moved to Thursday evening. There was no announcement on the Lincoln-Winston-Salem State game, which is the home opener for the Rams as well as homecoming.

Campbell announced on Tuesday afternoon that its game with unbeaten NC Central would be moved to a noon kickoff from the original 6 p.m. start. Three games in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference could be impacted, although there was no decision announced on Miles-Albany, Benedict-Fort Valley State, Morehouse-Edward Waters, and Kentucky State-Savannah State.

Edward Waters canceled classes on Tuesday at 4 p.m. and will remain closed through Friday. The school says it will make a decision on its football game on Thursday.

On Monday, Bethune-Cookman said it had already made plans to move its practices to Alabama to prepare for Saturday’s game against Alabama A&M. The school issued a mandatory evacuation, and students were to convert to remote learning on Tuesday.

Florida A&M announced on Tuesday that its home game against Mississippi Valley State would be played as scheduled on Saturday.

As of 2 p.m. Ian had sustained winds of 120 mph and was moving to the north at 10 mph.

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WILBERFORCE, Ohio — For the first time since 2015, the Lincoln University football team went into someone’s stadium and came out victorious.

Dah’Mear Triplett hauled in a pair of touchdowns with four catches and 96 yards as the Lions claimed the 26-21 non-conference win over Central State Saturday inside McPherson Stadium. All 26 of Lincoln’s points came in the second half.

Lincoln pretty much sealed the victory on a methodical 18-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 11:53 and culminated with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Andrew Banks (Atlanta, Ga./Mays) on fourth down. The score gave Lincoln the 26-14 lead with less than two minutes remaining.

However, the Marauders had one last gasp.

Aided by a couple of personal foul penalties, Central State marched 60 yards on six plays in just 63 seconds to make things interesting … briefly. The ensuing onside kick didn’t even travel to the required 10 yards, and Lincoln took one knee to seal to victory.

Neither offense could find the end zone in the first half, but the Marauders were able to take a lead into the halftime thanks for a 54-yard punt return with 36 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

It didn’t result in any sweeping momentum changes for the home team as they were suffocated for the entire third quarter. While the defense was pitching a shutout, the offensive machine started to hum. Amir Gerald (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) scored Lincoln’s first points of the season with a 17-yard touchdown scamper, and with the two-point conversion — the Lions had a lead they wouldn’t surrender.

The Freeman to Triplett connected were responsible for the next two scores as they connected on scoring strikes of 12 and 30 yards. Neither two-point conversion attempt was successful, and with 14:52 left in the fourth quarter, Lincoln led 20-7.

A quick strike by Central State pulled the Marauders to with 20-14, but the aforementioned clock guzzling drive pretty much sealed the win.

Freeman finished with 140 yards on 11-of-23 passing and two touchdowns. He added 70 yards on 12 carries. Samuel Jordon added 47 yards on seven attempts.

For the second game in a row, Mike Johnson (Edgewood, Md./Edgewood) led the team in tackling — finishing with seven stops, a sack and two tackles for loss, while Kentrell Gray added six tackles and one for loss.

Lincoln opens the home portion of its slate 7 p.m. Saturday, hosting CIAA North favorite Fayetteville State. It will be the first home game inside the LU Athletics Stadium since 2019.

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The team’s success came down to offensive control. Several key conversions allowed Del State to extend drives and accumulate 48 total game minutes of ball possession. Del State’s defense was also solid, particularly against the run. They limited the Lincoln (PA) running backs to just 1.9 yards per rush.

Lincoln (PA) heavily struggled on offense, failing time and time again to put points on the board. Losing 87 yards to penalties certainly also played a role in its struggles. Dah’Mear Triplett was a bright spot for the offense, putting up 64 yards receiving on the day to lead Lincoln (PA)’s pass-catchers.

Delaware State starts their season on a strong note with the win. On the other side, Lincoln (PA) falls to 0-1 with the loss. Each team will get their next chance on Sept. 10. Del State will look to keep it rolling in its next game against Delaware. While the Lions will hope to rebound with a road win against Central St. (OH).

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Teams from the CIAA’s North Division have won the last four CIAA football titles — the last three by Bowie State (2018, 2019 and 2021) with Virginia State taking the crown in 2017. One reason could be that the North Division teams play tougher non-conference schedules than their South Division counterparts.

Looking at the schedules of CIAA teams in 2022, the same could apply.

Top of the heap

Bowie State (12-2, 7-0 CIAA) is the current conference kingpin as it enters its first season in 13 years without head coach Damon Wilson, who moved over to lead Morgan State of the MEAC. The Bulldogs are ranked seventh nationally in the Lindy’s Magazine Div. II preseason rankings and 10th in the Versus D2 college rankings that came out a week ago.

Former BSU player and assistant under Wilson, Kyle Jackson, takes the reins of the Bulldogs on an interim basis for the 2022 season. He inherits another tough non-conference schedule that will likely prepare the CIAA-favorite Bulldogs when conference play begins.

Last year, after a close 32-24 loss on the road to MEAC member Delaware State to open the season, BSU got a hard-fought home win over Saginaw Valley State (28-19) and a road win at New Haven (27-13) before starting its CIAA schedule.

Jackson and Bowie State open at home this season on Sept. 3 vs. New Haven, ranked 18th in the 2022 Lindy’s preseason NCAA Div. II national rankings. New Haven’s loss last year to BSU came in a 10-2 season. The Chargers went on to win the 2021 Northeast-10 conference championship and then won a first round Div. II playoff game over conference rival Bentley. They lost in the second round to Kutztown, 10-7.

New Haven is the preseason pick to repeat as NE-10 champion.

A special date at SVSU

The Bulldogs then play at Saginaw Valley State on Sept. 10 before beginning CIAA play vs. Shaw on Sept. 17.

This year’s Bowie State game at SVSU will include a unique collaboration of common ground that will highlight the history and experience of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). BSU will combine with SVSU to offer several educational and cultural events in the days leading up to the Saturday football game, including appearances at SVSU by Bowie State’s renowned Symphony of Soul marching band, and joint programs hosted by faculty of both institutions.

“While our athletic teams and those of other HBCUs often compete against non-HBCUs in various sports, the experience is often limited to the athletic contest,” said Clyde Doughty, director of intercollegiate athletics at Bowie State. “This partnership between Bowie State and SVSU provides extraordinary learning opportunities for representatives of both schools and their communities. I am not aware of any similar ventures that have ever been undertaken.”

SVSU finished 7-4 a year ago. After its loss at Bowie State, SVSU battled eventual Div. II national champion and fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference member Ferris State in a 47-45 loss. Ferris State went on to win the GLIAC title and beat Valdosta State in last year’s D2 championship game, 58-17.

SGSU was picked fourth in the GLIAC this year after a 4-3 finish last year.

There will likely be an indication how Jackson and the Bulldogs will fare without Wilson and departed quarterback Ja’rome Johnson and star running back Calil Wilkins, after these early games.

Bowie State in preseason rankings

Bowie State is picked seventh in the Lindy’s Magazine 2022 NCAA Div. II preseason poll. Riding a stingy defense a year ago, the Bulldogs got a 17-7 win over Fayetteville State to win its third consecutive CIAA crown. They then posted a 31-10 win over Lenoir-Rhyne in the first round of the D2 playoffs and a 13-10 win over Newberry in the second round to reach the national quarterfinals.

BSU lost to eventual national runners-up Valdosta State, 41-17 in the D2 quarterfinals. In its toughest CIAA contest in 2021, BSU staved off four TD passes from QB Chauncey Caldwell and over 200 rushing yards from Darius Hagins to pull out a 51-44 win over Virginia State.

BSU will play at Virginia State on Sat., Oct. 8.

CIAA football: N. Div. contenders

Virginia Union (6-4, 5-2), who finished behind BSU in the N. Div. last year, also has a tough non-conference opponent early. The Panthers, in their fourth season under Dr. Alvin Parker, travel to 2021 Div. II runners-up Valdosta State on Sept. 10 after opening at home on Sept. 3 vs. Virginia-Lynchburg. Valdosta State, who walloped VUU 51-7 a year ago, is ranked first or second in most preseason Div. II polls.

Virginia State (3-6, 3-4), with new head coach Dr. Henry Frazier III at the helm, opens on the road on Sept. 3 at Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears finished 8-3 overall last year, 6-2 in the South Atlantic Conference behind champion Newberry. Both made the Div. II playoffs where they lost to Bowie State. It was the third straight Div. II playoff appearance for LRU. The Bears are picked second in the SAC and come in ranked 16^th in the Lindy’s preseason poll.

Chowan (7-3, 4-3), who finished between VUU and VSU in the North a year ago, begins the season with home games vs. middle-of-the-road SAC teams Barton on Sept. 1 and Tusculum on Sept. 10. Mark Hall is in his second year leading Chowan.

CIAA football: South Division schedules

Four-time South Division champion and 2022 division favorite Fayetteville State (8-2, 7-0) is led by seventh-year head coach Richard Hayes. The Broncos open at home vs. UNC-Pembroke of the Mountain East Conference. The game is dubbed the Two Rivers Classic and is set for Sept. 3. They last met in 2016 with UNC-P defeating FSU 50-28. UNC-P was 6-5 last year, 6-4 in the MEC.

FSU follows that with a Sept. 10 date at home vs. Wingate, who finished 8-3 a year ago including a 40-21 win over FSU at Wingate. Wingate also beat Shaw 20-7. Wingate lost to Newberry and Lenoir-Rhyne in last year’s SAC race. The Bulldogs are picked third in the preseason behind Newberry and Lenoir-Rhyne.

Shaw (6-4, 5-2), the second choice in the S. Div., opens at Wingate on Sept. 3 before travelling to Wayne State on Sept. 10. The Wayne State Warriors are picked sixth in preseason GLIAC projections. Shaw is led by Adrian Jones, also in his seventh season.

Winston-Salem State (3-6, 3-4) also has an interesting start to its first season under Robert Massey now that his interim tag has been removed. The Rams open on Sunday, Sept. 4 in Canton, Ohio vs. Central State in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic.

The Rams then renew an old CIAA rivalry the following Saturday (Sept. 10) as they travel to Durham to face North Carolina Central of the MEAC. This will be the 46th meeting between the Rams and the Eagles with NCCU holding a slight 23-22 series advantage by virtue of last season’s close 20-13 triumph.

The schedules

NORTH DIVISION

BOWIE STATE

Date Opponent Time

9/3 New Haven 1

9/10 @ Saginaw Valley State 1

9/17 @ Shaw 1

9/24 @ Saint Augustine’s 1 

10/1 Livingstone (HC) 2

10/8 @ Virginia State 4

10/15 Virginia Union 12n

10/22 Chowan 1

10/29 @ Elizabeth City State 1 

11/5 Lincoln 1

CHOWAN

9/1 Barton 6

9/10 Tusculum 1

9/17 Johnson C. Smith 1

9/24 Winston-Salem State 6

10/1 @ Fayetteville State 7 

10/8 @ Lincoln PA 1

10/15 Virginia State (HC) NA

10/22 @Bowie State 1

10/29 @ Virginia Union 1

11/5 Elizabeth City State 1

ELIZABETH CITY STATE

9/3 @ Benedict 6

9/10 Livingstone in Rocky Mt. NC 4

9/17 Winston-Salem State 12n 

9/24 @ Shaw 1

10/1 @ Johnson C. Smith 1

10/8 @ Virginia Union 1

10/15 Lincoln (PA) (HC) 1

10/22 Virginia State 1 

10/29 Bowie State 1 

11/5 @ Chowan 1

LINCOLN (PA)

9/3 @ Delaware State 2 

9/10 @ Central State 1 

9/17 Fayetteville State 7

9/24 @ Johnson C. Smith 12n 

10/1 @Winston-Salem State 1:30  

10/8 Chowan (HC) 1

10/15 @ Elizabeth City State 1

10/22 Virginia Union 12n 

10/29 Virginia State 1 

11/5 @ Bowie State 1

VIRGINIA STATE

9/3 @ Lenoir-Rhyne 6 

9/10 Bluefield State 6 

9/17 Saint Augustine’s 6 

9/24 @ Livingstone 4

10/1 Shaw 6

10/8 Bowie State (HC) 4

10/15 @ Chowan ?

10/22 @ Elizabeth City State 1

10/29 @Lincoln (PA) 1 

11/5 Virginia Union 12n

VIRGINIA UNION

9/1 VA-Lynchburg 7

9/10 @ Valdosta State 5 

9/17 Livingstone 6

9/24 @ Fayetteville State 4 

10/1 Saint Augustine’s 1

10/8 Elizabeth City State (HC) 12n

10/15 @ Bowie State 1

10/22 @ Lincoln (PA) 12n

10/29 Chowan 12n

11/5 @ Virginia State 12n

South Division

FAYETTEVILLE STATE

9/3 UNC Pembroke 7 

9/10 Wingate 7 

9/17 @ Lincoln PA 7

9/24 Virginia Union 4 

10/1 Chowan 7 

10/8 Saint Augustine’s (HC) 2

10/15 @ Livingstone 1:30

10/22 @ Johnson C. Smith 1

10/29 @ Shaw 4

11/5/ @ Winston-Salem State 4

JOHNSON C. SMITH

9/1 @ Bluefield State 6 

9/10 @ Allen 6

9/17 @ Chowan 1

9/24 Lincoln (PA) 12n 

10/1 Elizabeth City State 1

10/8 Shaw 1 

10/15 @Saint Augustine’s 1

10/22 Fayetteville State (HC) 1

10/29 @ Winston-Salem State 1

11/5 @ Livingstone 1:30 

LIVINGSTONE

9/3 Catawba 6

9/10 Elizabeth City State in Rocky Mt., NC., 4

9/17 @ Virginia Union 6

9/24 Virginia State 4

10/1 @ Bowie State 2

10/8 Winston-Salem State 1

10/15 Fayetteville State (HC) 1:30

10/22 @ Shaw 1

10/29 @ Saint Augustine’s 1 

11/5 Johnson C. Smith 1:30

ST. AUGUSTINE’S

9/1 @ Tusculum 6 

9/10 Limestone 1 

9/17 @ Virginia State 6 

9/24 Bowie State 1 

10/1 @ Virginia Union 1 

10/8 @ Fayetteville State 2

10/15 Johnson C. Smith (HC) 1

10/22 Winston-Salem State 1 

10/29 Livingstone 1 

11/5 @ Shaw 1

SHAW

9/3 Wingate 4

9/10 @ Wayne State 6 

9/17 Bowie State 1

9/24 Elizabeth City State 1

10/1 @ Virginia State 6 

10/8 @ Johnson C. Smith 1

10/15 @ Winston-Salem State 1:30 

10/22 Livingstone (HC) 1

10/29 @ Fayetteville State 4

11/5 Saint Augustine’s 1

WINSTON-SALEM STATE

9/4 Central State in Canton, OH 4

9/10 @ NC Central 6

9/17 @ Elizabeth City State 12n

9/24 @ Chowan 6

10/1 Lincoln (PA)  (HC) 1:30

10/8 @ Livingstone 1

10/15 Shaw 1:30 

10/22 @ Saint Augustine’s 1 

10/29 Johnson C. Smith 1

11/5 Fayetteville State 4

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Former Lincoln University women’s basketball player Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) is officially going pro.

Brown signed her first professional contract with CPN de Oporto Portugal.

“I felt like it was one of the best offers that I received in comparison to Dublin and Finland,” said Brown. “I also feel as if it’ll lead to me getting more exposure to higher leagues and divisions in the Euro Leagues.

“It felt unbelievable signing my first professional deal, but I am proud of myself and happy to see my dreams turn into reality.”

Brown saved the best for last as she chose to return to Lincoln for a fifth season and culminated the season by leading the Lions to the women’s basketball program’s first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship. 

She was named the CIAA Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring with 17.2 points per game. She added 5.2 rebounds, 52 assists, and 40 steals while shooting a league-best 33.5 percent from beyond the arc. An All-CIAA backcourt selection, she added to her trophy case with a CIAA Tournament MVP honor.

On-court honors only paled in comparison to her off-court laurels. She is the first Lincoln University student-athlete to earn CIAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors and to earn CoSIDA Academic All-American honors. Brown was also recognized as an Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar, and finished as the first runner-up for their Scholar of the Year award.

“I’m so happy and excited for Bry,” said Lincoln University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Janice Washington. “It’s certainly the opportunity of a lifetime, that is still a rare feat when you know how many play college ball that doesn’t get that shot. She is truly deserving and has worked her butt off for it. We look forward to seeing her go be great in the pros.”

Bryanna Brown leaves for Portugal at the beginning of September and the season will run until April. 

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That was perhaps the feeling Wednesday for head coaches and players at the 2022 CIAA Media Day at Roanoke’s Holiday Inn Valley View.

Damon Wilson, who led Bowie State for 13 years, has moved to Morgan State with former linebackers coach Kyle Jackson taking the helm of the Bulldog program on an interim basis. Jackson says, ‘not so fast’ to the rumors of BSU’s impending demise.

The CIAA football champions

“The biggest key is setting the standard of expectations,” Jackson said. “When I talk to the guys, I let them know the standard is the standard regardless of who’s here, who’s not here.”

Jackson is a former middle linebacker who played under Wilson in 2009 and 2010 and joined Wilson’s coaching staff in 2017. He also echoed his former mentor’s mantra of ‘tradition never graduates.’

“Things are not going to change much,” Jackson said of his 12-2 team that was undefeated in conference play (8-0) and won an unprecedented two games in the NCAA Div. II playoffs to reach the national quarterfinals.

“We saw how far we could really go (last season). It opened a lot of eyes to the potential the Bowie State program has. A lot of those guys are returning.”

Bulldog stalwarts

Chief among the BSU returnees is Joshua Pryor, a 6-4, 260-pound senior defensive lineman who accompanied Jackson to the proceedings. Pryor had his three championship rings prominently displayed on his fingers.

Pryor would likely have been the league’s preseason defensive player of the year had one been chosen. Often facing double teams, he posted 73 tackles, six sacks and 21.5 tackles for 84 yards in losses last season. Pryor has 28.5 sacks, 66 tackles for losses of 343 yards in his three seasons at BSU.

“I will have double-teams, they’re going to run away from me,” Pryor said, “but I know my guys are going to be there at the end of the day. We all have our job to do and that’s execute.”

BSU also returns hard-hitting defensive backs Myles Woolfolk (75 tackles) and Raymond Boone (58 tackles) and linebacker Wesley Bowers (58 tackles). Boone had been rumored to be joining head coach Deion Sanders at Jackson State but Jackson said he is returning to the Bulldogs.

On offense, Jackson has to find replacements for two-year starter JaRome Johnson at quarterback and 1,000-yard rusher Calil Wilkins.  

CIAA football: North Division challengers

Bowie State’s chief challenger in the North Division may come from a source familiar with the Bulldogs’ tradition.

New Virginia State head coach Dr. Henry Frazier III could be considered the architect of the Bowie State program. Frazier was a successful quarterback for the Bulldogs from 1986-89 and served as head coach from 1999 to 2003 where he coached Damon Wilson.

He moved to Prairie View A&M from 2004 to 2010 and won the SWAC championship in 2009. Frazier spent two years at NC Central in the MEAC before returning to help Wilson as a special assistant during the 2018 and 2019 championship years. He replaced Reggie Barlow at VSU late, in May of this year.

“I have experience with that,” Frazier said of his late arrival. “I got the Bowie (head coaching) job on July 22 and we still had a winning season. So I figure we’re ahead of the curve right now.”

Frazier also said Barlow did not leave the cupboard bare. “It’s not empty. There’s players and talent there. Walking into this situation is my best situation in terms of Bowie, Prairie View or (NC) Central. Coach Barlow and his staff did a good job of signing a pretty good class, 23 or 24, we brought in another ten freshmen and another 12 to 15 transfers on top of that. So, we’ll have players. It’s just a matter of them following my lead.”

Virginia Union and Elizabeth City State

Virginia Union has been the closest to dethroning Bowie State in the North. The Panthers finished 12-5 in the division over the last three seasons under Dr. Alvin Parker, finishing second, a game behind Bowie State twice (5-2 last season).

“That’s the game (vs. Bowie State) that’s been stopping us every year,” Parker said. “We win that game any one of the three years and we’re playing in Salem (site of the championship game). We feel good about what we’re doing and we have a process at Virginia Union that’s tried and true. It creates championships.” The Panthers play at Bowie State this season on Oct. 15.

Coach Parker brought along sophomore running back Jada Byers (914 yds., 5.4 yards per carry) who led the league with 12 rushing touchdowns. He earned offensive freshman of the year honors. “I feel this is the season we get it done,” Byers said.

Marcus Hilliard is the new coach returning to lead his alma mater, Elizabeth City State. The Vikings have not had a winning season since 2012. Hilliard played for former ECSU coach Waverly Tiller in the early 2000s when the Vikings were perennial contenders for N. Div. and conference honors. He has been a defensive guru at both ECSU and VUU and wants to return ECSU to its former standing. The 2022 theme for the Vikings is ‘Restore the Culture, A new era at ECSU football.’

“Coach Hilliard has come in not just to create a football team that is going to compete on Saturdays but build a program that can compete for years to come,” said Zion Riddick, ECSU’s all-CIAA kick returner and wide receiver.

Hilliard was the defensive coordinator on that 2012 ECSU team that made it to the championship game. “We had a good run before,” Hilliard said of his time playing and coaching with Tiller. “Putting my impact on the team and bringing back some of the good things we did in the past, that’s my goal. We’ve been down, so we’re trying to change the infrastructure. I just want to put my stamp on that.”

Chowan and Lincoln (Pa.)

Chowan, particularly in the last two seasons with Bryce Witt at quarterback, has been an offensive juggernaut and threat in the North. The Hawks led the CIAA in total (432.2 ypg.) and scoring offense (38.5 ppg.) last season.

Second-year head coach Mark Hall will enter 2022 without Witt (2,864 passing yards, 31 TDs, 4 ints.) or standout wide receiver/kick returner Imeek Watkins (68 rec., 886 yds., 10 TDs). Wideout Laurence King (51 rec., 658 yds., 8 TDs) returns.

Chowan finished 7-3 overall, 4-3 in CIAA play in Hall’s first season. Defensive Rookie of the Year Isaac Anderson (37 tackles, 8 sacks, 20 TFL), a 6-3, 260-pound tackle, is the top returning defender.

Lincoln enters its third season under Josh Dean coming off a 1-9 season, 1-6 in the CIAA. The head coach said he’s taking on more responsibility this season. Junior defensive back Eric Best said he believes the team is coming together

CIAA football: Top of the South Division

The real chasers of Bowie State are again led by head coach Richard Hayes’ Broncos of Fayetteville State. After dominating the South Division, FSU has fallen to the Bulldogs in the CIAA championships game in each of the past three campaigns. They have won four straight S. Div. titles.

They are still searching for their first championship in seven years under Hayes. The championship game losses to BSU have been by 30-10 (2018), 23-7 (2019) and 17-7 (2021) scores. “We feel like we’re very competitive (vs. BSU). We’ve started slow every year, turned the ball over early,” Hayes said. “If we can eliminate those things, I think we’ll have a good chance in the end.”

FSU will feature the league’s top returning quarterback, Khari Lane, who was voted the preseason all-CIAA quarterback. Lane threw for over 2,000 yards with 20 TDs and only five interceptions. Brandon Barnes-Bowman (5 ints.) leads the defense.

Sixth-year head coach Adrien Jones has guided Shaw (6-4, 5-2 S) past Winston-Salem into second in the S. Div. behind FSU. The Bears are 0-5 during Jones’ tenure vs. FSU including a close 15-12 fourth-quarter loss a year ago.

The Bears return the league’s top ground attack (194.8 ypg.) with top returning rusher, junior Sidney Gibbs (948 yds., 5.7 ypc., 94.8 ypg., 6 TDs.) and Andre Braxton (508 yds., 10 TDs). All-CIAA offensive linemen and Antavious Zachery and Tyreese Bobbitt are also back in the fold.

“They (the offensive line) were the MVPs of our team,” Jones said. “We’ve got a lot of toys on our offense. We’ve got to be dynamic in anything we do, offense, defense and special teams.

“I think that we have the football team to beat Fayetteville State but we’re gonna have to play disciplined football, we’re going to have to be smart coaches and put out our guys in the right situations at the right time.”

Winston-Salem State and others

After two seasons, Robert Massey had the interim tag removed and plans to get Winston-Salem State back to elite status. That development has helped the Rams, in effect, start over.

“We have additional coaches added to the staff, obviously that we needed,” Massey said “It’s (having the tag removed) helped us from the recruiting standpoint. It’s put us in position to bring in about 40 freshman. We’ll bring in about 20 transfers. We want to build this program, basically starting over. But at the same time, we want to compete for a championship.”

The Rams (3-6, 3-4 S) had just junior DB Elijah Banks on the preseason all-CIAA team.

Johnson C. Smith (1-7, 1-5 S), Livingstone (1-8, 1-5 S) and Saint Augustine’s (1-7, 1-6 S) were able to muster just one win last season.

Maurice Flowers enters his first season leading JCSU. The former Fort Valley State head man is returning to his alma mater and his hometown of Charlotte, NC. Flowers said he’s brought in 55 freshmen to turn the Golden Bulls program around. He will feature all-CIAA graduate wide receiver Reggie Bryant who hauled in 49 catches for 693 yards and seven TDs a year ago.

Sean Gilbert enters his second season leading Livingstone. He said a new blue turf is ready for the Bears’ stadium while construction on a new track is being finished. He said his young and green team should be better and more competitive. Sophomores Jade Echols at middle linebacker and Malik Head at defensive tackle are the top defenders. Andrew King is a key transfer.

David Bowser enters his second season with double-duties of athletics director and head football coach at St. Aug’s. He hopes to shore up a defense that gave up 218 rushing yards and 33.4 points while scoring just 11 points per game last season. Defensive tackle Marcus Davis, the student body president, and sophomore cornerback Jeron Hinton are leaders on that side of the ball. Soph QB Christopher Perkins leads the offense.

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It’s been three years since Morgan State Alum Phillip Carr graduated and since then he’s played for two NBA G League teams and three teams overseas.

Carr, 26, has made stops in various states and countries as he continues his career as a professional basketball player. 

His first stop: The Westchester Knicks

“It was super crazy, because it was a long process,” Carr said. “[After] graduating in May I had a pre-draft workout with the [Washington] Wizards and went to summer league camp with the [Philadelphia] Sixers but ended up getting cut. But that was a good experience for me. From May, I didn’t know what I was going to do. It was my first time out, so you don’t really know the process. Your eyes are wide open, waiting for your agent to call at any opportunity.  It’s really a waiting game.”

Phillip Carr, a native of Brooklyn, New York, eventually received that call. Ronnie Zeidel, Carr’s agent, informed him that he would have a chance to play for his childhood team the New York Knicks.

“When my agent  actually called I was working out at Pier 36 in New York. I was just finishing up a work out and he called. He said, ‘Hey Phil the Knicks want you. They want you to come up on Thursday, and Friday they want you to work out and they want you to sign. I was ready to cry. I was super excited.”

Carr signed with the Westchester Knicks in October 2019 after averaging 13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds during three seasons at Morgan State. The Westchester Knicks are the G League affiliate of the New York Knicks. 

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Phillip Carr was ready for his next challenge, but he quickly learned the level of play is completely different. Also, one of the things he learned during this time was that in the G League you’re not “the guy.” 

“You’re not the guy anymore,” Carr said. “It’s just a completely different game. It’s not the college game at all. The paint is bigger, you can’t fit in the paint anymore and guys are mobile. It’s not like I’m playing a forward that’s not mobile, or guarding a five that’s not mobile. Another thing was taking my IQ to the next level and learning the game. Back when I was in college our three-pointer wasn’t the [NBA] three-point line — it’s literally like two and a half steps back. Conditioning on that level is completely different. Mental, physical, and strength — it’s different even at the G League level.”

Carr played nine games with Westchester before signing a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers G League affiliate the Cleveland Charge where he played 13 games. 

Although things did not work out for Phillip Carr with Westchester and Cleveland, he remained ready and waited for his next opportunity.  His agent did eventually call with another team interested in him, however, it wasn’t for a team in the United States.

Next Stop: Iskra Svit (Slovakia)

No teams were interested in Carr after his stint with the Charge, so Carr’s agent, Ronnie Zeidel, quickly shifted gears and told Carr he was going overseas. 

“My agent did look for another G League team, but no one was super interested,” Carr said. “So, he was like we’re going straight overseas and I got an entry level job in Slovakia.” 

“I believe it was more physicality in that league than so much skill. So, you add my combination of being able to handle the physicality and my skill set to it and now I’m excelling. My agent told me to do what I got to do. Get my numbers, score as much you can and rebound as much as you can. And I did that.”

Carr averaged 17 points and 6.2 rebounds in 27 games with Svit. He also tallied his career-high 39 points to go along with seven boards in a comeback win against Inter Bratislava, the top team in the league.

“That was crazy a night. I could not miss,” Carr said.  “I was taking good shots. I willed my team to a win. Some dudes definitely helped out. Some dudes practically had double-doubles. My guys kept finding me and I was hot that day, though I didn’t feel good shooting the ball pre-game. That was versus the number one team in the league. They were a Euro Cup and Champions League team and I just did them in that day. It was bad for them that day.”

However, his time with Svit was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. Svit finished fifth on the table of the nine-team league with a record of 14-14.

Final Stops: Norrkoping Dolphins (Sweden) and UCC Assigeco Piacenza (Italy)

After playing for Svit, Phillip Carr would go on to play for the Norrkoping Dolphins in Sweden during the 2020-21 season (13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game) and the UCC Assigeco Piacenza (6.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game) during the 21′-22 season. 

Carr says he enjoyed his time in the different countries he visited, but when he first arrived it was a culture shock. Whether it was the pork-heavy food, language barriers, or time difference, it took awhile for him to adjust. Unlike in Sweden and Slovakia, in Italy Carr had a translator during the season as “90 to 95 percent of the organization spoke Italian besides the head coach and the general manager.” During games, the assistant coach would translate what the head coach was saying rapidly. 

In addition, Carr says his days were still scheduled around the time in America so that he can talk to his family and friends. 

“My days were scheduled around America,” Carr said. “I had to know when to call people back home because we’re on a six-hour time difference. It could be 6 p.m. there but it’s 12 a.m. here and I’m trying to go to sleep. My days were of course planned around my practice and game schedule, but also around the time I can call people back in America.”

After three years Carr believes his basketball skills are only getting better, primarily his IQ and how hard he plays. He also believes that “if you think you’re playing hard, you’re really not. It’s [another] level and you just don’t know it yet.”

Although he’s been in a different continent, that hasn’t stopped Carr from keeping up with the Morgan State Bears basketball team. He even stayed up until 2 a.m. to watch the men’s basketball team play Howard during the all-star game weekend where the Bison defeated the Bears 68-66 in the first-ever NBA HBCU Classic. All in all, he’s still rooting for the Bears. 

“I’m waiting for them to win the chip,” Carr said. “I know [Kevin] Broadus took them to the [championship] the first year. I was wearing my Morgan shirt when they played versus Norfolk. Last year, I stayed up until like two in the morning to watch them play Howard at the showcase. I am up to date. I am super excited. I just want them to do well.”

As for what’s next for Carr, he’s still preparing and waiting for his chance because you’ll never know when you’ll get that call.

“​​I’ll be down in Maryland most of the summer. I’m just trying to get my body right and get my [mind] right,” Carr said. “I’m just trying to decompress while working on my game and body. I’m going to be ready for whatever is next. I do have offers to choose where I’m going to go. I prefer to play in America, but if Europe is the next route for me I’m going to do that.”

At Morgan State, he started over 70 games in three years. He was consistent. He led his team in rebounds during every season he played for the Bears (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18). Carr averaged over 30 minutes a game in that span as well. 

An All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) First Team selection during his senior campaign, Carr became one of only seven players in Morgan State history to score over 1,000 points and grab over 700 rebounds. He became the 19th member of MSU’s 1,000-point club, scoring 1,165 points in 87 games and ranks sixth on the school’s charts with 741 career rebounds, totals that he accumulated in just three seasons.

As a senior, Carr also garnered National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 15 first team honors for the second consecutive season, and received second-team BOXTOROW Division I All-American honors as well.

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Lincoln University (PA) Director of Athletics and Recreational Services Harry Stinson III has named Jason A. Armstrong as the Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach, effective immediately.
 
He replaces Corey Lowery, who was recently named the assistant men’s basketball coach at Division I Seton Hall University.
 
“This is a bittersweet moment for our program,” said Stinson III. “On one hand, we are saddened by losing Coach Lowery, but also happy for him professionally for the opportunity to coach at a major Division I program such as Seton Hall. We thank Coach Lowery for positioning our program for sustained success and we wish him well in his future endeavors.

“We are also excited for the future of the Lincoln University Men’s Basketball program with the elevation of Coach Armstrong. Our program is in very capable hands with the handoff to Jason. He has shown his ability to lead, demonstrating his passion for Lincoln, and will keep our program positioned for success within the CIAA, Regionally and Nationally.“
 
Armstrong was the associate head coach under Lowery at Lincoln for the last two seasons.
 
While on staff, Armstrong took on a variety of roles, including recruiting, scouting and academics. He served as the primary contact for all of the team travel and was responsible for the game schedule.
 
“I am humbled and honored to be named Interim Head Coach of Lincoln University,” said Armstrong. “I would like to thank President Brenda Allen and Athletic Director Harry Stinson for believing in my vision for the continued success for men’s basketball program. I wouldn’t be here today without the support of my family, previous coaches, as well as current and former players. Lincoln University has been very instrumental in my personal growth and development. I am very excited to get to work with our current roster with the goal of building on the success that Coach Corey Lowery started. I want to build something that Lincoln University can be proud of.”
 
Armstrong came to Lincoln University (PA) after serving as an assistant coach and director of recruiting at Division II Dominican College for seven seasons. During his tenure at Dominican, the Chargers reached four consecutive Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championship games, while claiming back-to-back CACC championships 2019 & 2020. 
 
Lincoln opens the 2022-23 season by hosting the CIAA/PSAC Challenge at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium on November 11.

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The tournament will feature Lincoln University, Cheyney University, the University of District of Columbia, and Bluefield State College. The HBCU Gameday Classic will be held Saturday, November 26, and Sunday, November 27.

Sunday’s slate includes the Battle of the Firsts as the host Lions will welcome Cheyney to Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.

“I am extremely excited that Lincoln University will be hosting the HBCU Gameday Classic for the 2022-23 season,” said Corey Lowery, Lincoln University’s head men’s basketball coach. “This is an excellent venue that will showcase the high-level play and talent within the HBCU community. Fans across the country will be able to witness the competitiveness of HBCUs along with a Game Day playing second-to-none environment. There is pride that exists amongst HBCUs that makes every game a rivalry. This will be an exciting event for the fans and players.”

HBCU Gameday has CIAA Roots

HBCU Gameday was founded by and is operated full time by a core group of people with CIAA roots. So for our first real philanthropic effort to be a basketball tournament hosted at a CIAA institution is very fitting.

“We’re so excited to partner with Lincoln University on this event. We’ve been shining a light on HBCUs virtually for ten years now, so to be able to do it physically is truly a dream come true,” said HBCU Gameday founder and WSSU alumnus Steven J. Gaither.

HBCU Gameday will stream the games on their platform and will have unprecedented access to the behind-the-scenes of putting this tournament together.

Wali Pitt, one of our managing partners who leads our cinematic efforts as well, is really excited to dive into telling the story of this tournament’s origins.

“Not only am I excited to showcase HBCU basketball on our platform but to be able to give our audience a cinematic behind the scenes look at a black college hoops tournament is something I’ve always wanted to do, and to do it with our own tourney is icing on the cake,” said Pitt who grew up in the shadow of Winston-Salem State University and started his college career at North Carolina Central University.

Honoring the Legacy

The most important thing to me is being just a small part of the legacy of black college basketball. While I was in school at WSSU I had the opportunity to get to know Clarence “Big House” Gaines as his coaching career was coming to an end. The stories that he told and the lessons he poured into me as one of his students will always be a part of me. Getting to interview the legendary John McLendon several times as a student was an opportunity whose significance I didn’t truly understand until years later. Now I am a part of a group at HBCU Gameday that can help in our small way to provide a little energy into black college basketball.

It’s also a salute to our fans who have supported our dream of growing the service that we provide at HBCU Gameday. Because of your support we are now in a position to be able to give back to the institutions that make our business possible.

We’ll have more updates and details on the HBCU Gameday Classic in the months to come. We are very excited for this opportunity.

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“Everybody knows CIAA time you got to turn the heat up, everybody’s watching you. All eyes on you,”  Dennis told HBCU Gameday in an exclusive interview. “People wanna know what you’re putting on. It is literally a process for me. It’s a lead-up, a build-up. I take it very serious, starting in January.”

Her championship attire consisted of custom orange heels with the Lincoln Lion logo on them, and a jacket honoring one of her players whose life was tragically cut short earlier this year. And then, there were the pants. Dennis’ pants featured a woven Lincoln University Lion logo as well as an embroidered photo of one of Staley, one of her idols. The pants were actually custom-made by a Lincoln University student. 

“She is phenomenal at what she does,” Dennis said. “On those pants, Dawn Staley, who has been my role model since I started playing basketball along with the Lincoln logos again because again, I pride myself on representing this university at any cost.”

But even more personal for Dennis was the jean jacket she wore. The back of the jacket featured a photo of Dennis and DeAshia Young, a former Lincoln star whose life was cut tragically short less than a month before the CIAA Tournament. 

“Two years ago, we had a thing and I would always tell the kid – no regrets,” Dennis said. “And even though we didn’t win, I know it was a lot of regrets that we didn’t because we felt like we had the team to do it. And so when they told me she passed away and how she passed away, it really was a hard time for me. Clearly is still is a hard time. It’s only been two months.”

Indeed, Young’s passing was tough for the program, but the players and coaches banded together and dedicated the rest of the season to their fallen teammate. The team wore shirts with Young’s photo on it as Dennis did her sideline tribute. 

“And so it was only right that I put her on my back – because I noticed what she wanted. On the top, it had no regrets. And I knew that this year was going to be the year and she was a huge part of this program. So after that, we put our heads down and we said, we’re going to go do this for her.”

And that’s exactly what Lincoln did. Check out the video below for the full story.

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ABOUT THE CLARENCE “BIG HOUSE” GAINES AWARDS

The Clarence “Big House” Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year Awards are presented to the head coach in NCAA Divisions 1 and 2, who may not earn recognition from mainstream outlets. An NSMA committee votes on the awards at the conclusion of the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments. The Awards are presented at the annual NSMA Awards Banquet.

Gaines was the head basketball coach at Winston-Salem (NC) State University for 47 seasons. His teams won 828 games, including the 1967 NCAA Division II National Championship. That team was led by Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, who went on to an NBA Hall of Fame career. Among other notable players Gaines coached were Cleo Hill, the first NBA first-round draft choice from a historically Black college or university, and sports media personality Stephen A. Smith. A former president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Gaines was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. He died in 2005.

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HANOVER, MD – We are going to take the lacrosse world by storm with a new attitude, purpose, and mission. Next Level Sports will innovate and revolutionize collegiate lacrosse by founding an Olympic-
style lacrosse league featuring Mid-Atlantic colleges and universities, including HBCU Lacrosse via several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The Next Collegiate League (NCL) will showcase student athlete talent playing a new Olympic
Style Lacrosse that is an evolved faster-paced, higher-scoring version of the sport. It is called
Olympic Style Lacrosse because the International Olympic Committee is contemplating adding
this innovative format to the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles.
The NCL will entertain traditional lacrosse enthusiasts while attracting new fans to the sport
through a more engaging game flow. The inaugural HBCU Lacrosse members for the Collegiate League include:

• Bowie State University
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Lincoln University
•  Coppin State University
• Delaware State University
• Morgan State University

“The Collegiate League is our way to establish a global audience, innovate and elevate the
sport of lacrosse to make it more prominent and more accessible on college campuses and
throughout the country,” said André Gudger, Next Level Owner/CEO. “We envision providing a
platform for Olympic-style lacrosse that has global reach and it will give athletes an opportunity
to rapidly expand the sport and compete at the Olympic level.”
The Collegiate League season will begin in April with the inaugural Crown Classic Tournament.
Next Level Sports will produce and broadcast a 10-game season from early April to mid-May.
To learn more about the Next Collegiate League Olympic Style Lacrosse, visit
https://nlse.com/ncl-lacrosse.

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Lincoln concludes the season 22-7. 

A three-pointer by freshman Ciani Montgomery (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic Prep) cut the Lincoln deficit to 11 with 8:37 remaining in the second quarter, however, the Lions went on a five-minute scoring hiatus. During the drought, Glenville State went on a 19-0 run to push the lead to 30 points. Lincoln was 0-for-5 from the floor with four turnovers during the run. 

The Lions played better in the second half, outscoring the host Pioneers in the third and fourth quarters. Lincoln won the third quarter 24-19 and the fourth quarter, 14-13. 

Senior Kryshell Gordy (Chester, Pa./Ursuline Academy (Del.)), in her final collegiate game, finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while junior Jade Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Abington Friends School) led the team with 15 points and seven rebounds. 

Montgomery added 11 points, four assists, and three steals. 

It marked the final game in Lincoln uniforms for Gordy, Young, Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin), Joy Morton(Yeadon, Pa./Penn Wood), Shantel Cheeks (Washington D.C./Rock Creek Christian Academy (Harcum College)), Jeana Weatherspoon (Columbus, Ohio/Northland), and Shakira Edwards (Newark, N.J./Bloomfield Tech).

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CIAA Champion Lincoln University (PA) will take on Glenville State, the host of the Atlantic region. Glenville comes into the tournament 29-1. The SIAC got multiple bids to the tournament as champion Benedict College got the automatic bid and runner-up Savannah State got an at-large bid. 

Lincoln finished the regular season 19-7, claiming the CIAA North title and the top overall seed in the women’s CIAA Tournament in Baltimore. It went 3-0 in the tournament at Royal Farms arena en route to claiming the conference crown with a 67-52 win over Elizabeth City State on Feb. 26. 

Benedict College finished the regular season 19-7, second in the SIAC East. It came into the SIAC Tournament ranked eighth in the South region, just above Tuskegee and just below Savannah State. After disposing of Miles College it took down Tuskegee in overtime and then handed Savannah State its second loss of the season in the SIAC Tournament. It is ranked as the sixth seed and will take on no. 3 seed Lee who is 24-7.

Savannah State (27-2) picked up an at-large bid after its tough loss to Benedict. But it will be thrown into the fire immediately as it will take on the South’s no. 1 seed in Union (Tennessee) which is 26-2.

On the outside-looking-in are Elizabeth City State and Tuskegee University. 

Elizabeth City State finished just behind Lincoln in the CIAA North in the regular season, then fell short to LU in the CIAA title game. However, its 21-7 record wasn’t enough to get into the field. Interestingly enough, three CIAA teams were among the eight in the Atlantic Region in 2020 compared to just its champion in Lincoln this year.

Tuskegee finished its season 22-5 overall, good enough to claim the SIAC West title. However it appears its SIAC semifinal loss to Benedict knocked it out of contention for the NCAA Tournament. 

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“And at that point in time, our team chose we could have chosen to, you know, just give into that run or we could go on a run of our own. And so we did they score scored those two 3s  and six points very quickly and only scored six for the rest of that block.”

Senior and CIAA Player of the Year Bryanna Brown scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win. It was a full-circle moment for members of the Lincoln program who were on the previous edition of the squad that fell short two years ago in the quarterfinals. 

“We all felt like we were just starring in a movie called Unfinished Business,” Brown said with a smile after game. “And, you know, it was a five-star from reading, until we completed it. We had a wonderful cast I just think it’s a blessing.”

Elizabeth City State completed the tournament with a 21-7 record and will await the NCAA Tournament selection show to see if it can get a bid to the Big Dance.

Lincoln, meanwhile, improves to 22-7 overall and earns the CIAA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

We played a good amount of teams in our non-conference that we would see potentially in the NCAA with the postseason,” Washington said.  “Our team looks totally different than we did in the fall semester. Their teams do as well.”

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With the 74-48 victory over Livingstone Friday, the Lincoln University women’s basketball team is headed to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship game. It marks the school’s second all-time appearance in the title game as the Lions improved to 2-3 in semifinal games. Lincoln has appeared in five of the last seven CIAA semifinals.

Lincoln opened the game by scoring the first eight points and then capped the first quarter by scoring 10 straight for the 12-point lead. The Lions’ lead grew to as much as 24 in the first half before the Blue Bears scored the final eight points of the half.

Livingstone’s run extended to 12-0 as LC tallied the first four points of the third quarter, but a three-point play by freshman Jaleesa Lanier (Easton, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), followed by a bucket from senior Kryshell Gordy (Chester, Pa./Ursuline Academy (Del.)), and the Blue Bear momentum came to a halt. Those scores catapulted the Lions on the game-sealing 19-6 run that pushed the Lincoln lead to 25 points.

CIAA Player of the Year Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) led the team with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting with six rebounds.

Two players — junior Jade Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Abington Friends School) and senior Kryshell Gordy (Chester, Pa./Ursuline Academy (Del.)) — both recorded double-doubles in the game. Young, who finished 10 points and 10 rebounds, has registered a double-double in both tournament games and now has five on the season. It was Gordy’s third double-double as she finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds. She has six double-digit rebounds games this season. The duo played a huge part as the Lions set a Lincoln CIAA Tournament single-game record with 57 rebounds as a team. 

Freshman Maya Walker added 10 points and seven rebounds, her fourth double-figure scoring performance of the year. Two of those games have come against Livingstone.

Lincoln advances to its second CIAA Championship game in school history, playing Elizabeth City State 1 p.m. Saturday. The two teams split their regular-season games with each team posting home victories.

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The Lions started out the game lukewarm, but the Rams started out ice cold. The Lions led by 11 with 3:29 left in the first quarter. The Rams shot just 29.4 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, but managed to trim it down to 18-12 after one quarter, then outscored its higher-ranked opponent 32-26 in the next two quarters to tie the game at 44 headed into the fourth quarter.

The two teams were statistically pretty even in most categories, and WSSU actually shot a better percentage (39.4 percent overall to LU’s 36.8 percent). But LUPA got to the line more often, hitting 15-of-19 free throws to help get it over the edge.

Lincoln head coach Janice Washington was excited about the win in her first CIAA Tournament appearance since taking over the program. She said she appreciated the resiliency her team showed. 

“It is really exciting for this group,” she said. “They have worked so hard over the course of this season to get here. And so it’s very exciting to play in this environment and to have it feel like it’s a home game here right down the way in Baltimore. And so I really am proud of the resilience that they showed today.”

LUPA will rest on Thursday before taking on the winner of the Johnson C. Smith-Livingstone quarterfinal on Friday afternoon. 

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SAU improves to 7-20 overall, and advances to the next round. It will take on CIAA South winner and third overall seed Winston-Salem State on Thursday in the quarterfinals. WSSU swept the regular-season series, but both games were close. Game time is set for 8:00 P.M.

Game Two of Day Two of the CIAA Tournament saw LC beat Johnson C. Smith for the third time in this season with a score of 74-58. That’s actually the closest game between the two rivals, separated by about 30 minutes on Interstate-85. LC won the previous two matchups by 18 and 19 points respectively.

And to be honest, this one could have been much worse. LC led 40-18 at halftime and went up by as much as 30 with 9:25 remaining in the game. Smith would make a run to close the gap, but the game was never in doubt.

JCSU shot just 27.9 percent from the field in the first half, turning the ball over 12 times and leading to 20 LC points.

Livingstone improves to 12-9 on the season and advances to the quarterfinals of the CIAA Tournament. Awaiting will be Lincoln, the CIAA North runner-up and fourth overall seed. LC won the only meeting between the two, a 71-63 win on the road at Lincoln. The two schools will meet at 6:00 P.M. 

The post CIAA Tournament: St. Aug, Livingstone defeat rivals to advance appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Only the SWAC men and women on Monday (Jan. 10) were able to get in a full slate of games without a postponement or cancellation.

The MEAC has had the most cancellations or postponements with 17 of the last 19 men’s games not hitting the court. MEAC women’s programs have almost been hit as hard as 13 cancellations or postponements have occurred since just before the new year. 

That means it’s hard to get a bead on the top prospects or teams in the young season.  

HBCU Basketball – SWAC

Southern posted the best non-conference mark in the SWAC at 5-7. Sean Woods’ Jaguars (4-0 SWAC) have won their first four SWAC games to jump to the early lead in conference play. NC A&T transfer forward Tyrone Lyons (13.7 ppg.), 6-4 Murray State transfer Brion Whitley (12.5 ppg.)and 6-1 senior guard Jayden Saddler (11.6 ppg.) are leading the Jaguars. 

Southern plays at Grambling State Saturday (5:30 p.m.).

Alcorn State (4-12, 3-0) won just one of 13 non-conference games but head coach Landon Bussie has the Braves off to a 3-0 start in league action behind the play of Prairie View transfer Lenell Henry (13.0 ppg.). Alcorn has a key date with preseason favorite Texas Southern (5-8, 3-1) Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Braves then host Prairie View (1-11, 1-3) on Monday. 

HBCU Basketball – MEAC

On the Div. I level — men’s teams in the MEAC or SWAC — only the 10-4 MEAC defending champion Norfolk State Spartans under Robert Jones entered the new year and conference play with an above .500 record.

The Spartans have been led by 6-1 senior guard Joe Bryant’s 14.2 points per game. Six-nine redshirt senior forward Kris Bankston (11.2 ppg.) and 6-2 junior guard Christian Ings (10.5 ppg.) are other double-figure scorers. Bryant tallied a game-high 29 points as the Spartans knocked off Delaware State Wednesday, 80-51 for in their first conference tilt.

They hope to add to that record Saturday (4 p.m.) at  Howard (6-6), who had the second-best non-conference slate. It will be the first conference game for Howard and an early indicator of just how good the Bison are.

Head coach Kenny Blakeney’s squad has six players scoring in double-digits led by 6-10 sophomore forward Steve Settles’ 13.1 points per game and senior sharpshooter Kyle Foster’s 14.6 ppg. off the bench. Foster has made 42 of 82 3-pointers to lead the conference at .512 shooting from behind the arc. His 3.5 3s per game is also tops in the conference. 

Norfolk State plays at Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday (4 p.m.).

MLK Special on FOX

After the Norfolk State game, the Bison are set to host Notre Dame Monday (Jan. 17) at 2:30 p.m. in a special game on FOX Sports honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the day of his national holiday. The coverage will include special messages from prominent figures sharing stories of Dr. King and what his legacy means to them. 

The matchup marks the first time in its history that Notre Dame will visit and play at an HBCU campus.

Brey / Blakeney connection

The coaches, Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey and Howard’s Blakeney, have a lot in common. Both began their hoop careers playing under late legendary head coach Morgan Wooten at local DeMatha High School, one of the top prep programs in the nation. Brey also became an assistant on the bench with Wooten before he launched his college coaching career.

Blakeney played under Mike Kryzyzewski collegiately at Duke. Both Brey and Blakeney also worked as assistants under Coach K. Blakeney was also on Brey’s staff at Delaware before he became head coach at Notre Dame.

Two of Howard’s best players – Settles and freshman point guard Elijah Hawkins (12.6 ppg., league-best 7.0 assists per game) are DeMatha products. 

Howard alumnus to call the game

The game was originally scheduled for MLK Day in 2021 but was cancelled as the teams battled COVID-19 issues.

Howard alum Gus Johnson, now a play-by-play announcer for FOX College Hoops, will call the game with NBA vet and College Hall of Famer Jim Jackson providing analysis.

Host Mike Hill and analysts Steve Lavin and Donny Marshall will provide pregame, halftime and postgame coverage on-site from Howard’s Burr Gymnasium. FOX COLLEGE HOOPS TIP-OFF begins at 2:00 p.m. on FOX.

HBCU Basketball – CIAA

A traditional MLK weekend game in the CIAA will pit Virginia Union and Virginia State Saturday in Ettrick, Va. (4 p.m.). Jay Butler’s  VUU squad (10-3) is undefeated in league play at 3-0. Lonnie Blow’s Trojans of VSU are 5-7 overall, 2-3 in the CIAA.

VUU has a date Monday at Saint Augustine’s and Wednesday at Bowie State. 

Fayetteville State (8-5, 3-0 S) and Lincoln (10-4, 4-0 N) are the early CIAA division leaders. FSU is at J. C. Smith Monday (4 p.m.) and at Livingstone Wednesday (7:30 p.m.). Lincoln is at BSU Saturday (4 p.m.) and hosts Elizabeth City State Wednesday (8:30 p.m.). 

HBCU Basketball – SIAC

Benedict (11-3, 7-0 N) and Miles (9-3, 4-1 S) are the leaders in the SIAC North and South respectively. Benedict is on the road at Morehouse Saturday (2 p.m.) and at Albany State Monday (7 p.m.). Miles hosts Central State Saturday (3 p.m.) and Kentucky State Monday (7:30 p.m.).  

HOOPS GAMES THIS WEEK

SAT., JAN. 15

CIAA

Fayetteville State @ JC Smith 4

Lincoln @ Bowie State 4

Virginia Union @ Virginia State 4

W-Salem State @ St. Augustine’s TBA
Elizabeth City State @ Shaw 5

Livingstone @ Claflin 7:30

MEAC

NC Central @ SC State 4

Norfolk State @ Howard 4

Coppin State @ Morgan State 4

SIAC

Allen @ Albany State TBA

Savannah State @ Ft. Valley State TBA

Benedict @ Morehouse 2

Central State @ Miles 3

LeMoyne-Owen @ Kentucky State 4

Spring Hill @ Lane 5

Clark Atlanta @ Edward Waters 6

SWAC

Texas Southern @ Alcorn State 3

Florida A&M @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff 5:30

Bethune-Cookman @ Miss. Valley St. 4

Alabama A&M @ Alabama State 4:30

Prairie View A&M @ Jackson State 5:30

Southern @ Grambling State 5:30

BIG SOUTH

Presbyterian @ Hampton 5:30

NC A&T @ High Point 7

OVC

Morehead State @ Tennessee State 4

OTHERS
Central Oklahoma @ Lincoln (MO)` 3

W. Va. State @ Alderson Broaddus 4

Langston @ Mid-America Christian 4 

MON., JAN. 17

CIAA

Virginia Union @ St. Augustine’s 4

MEAC

Notre Dame @ Howard 2:30

Norfolk State @ Md.-E. Shore 4

SIAC

Benedict @ Albany State 7

Allen @ Morehouse TBA

Central State @ LeMoyne Owen 7

Clark Atlanta @ Savannah State 7:30

Kentucky State @ Miles 7:30

Tuskegee @ Lane 8:30

SWAC

Prairie View A&M @ Alcorn State TBA

Texas Southern @ Jackson State 7:30

B-Cookman @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7:30

Florida A&M @ Miss. Valley State 7:30

OVC

Tennessee Tech @ Tennessee State 2

TUES., JAN. 18

Spring Hill @ Fort Valley State 8:30

WED., JAN. 19

CIAA

JC Smith @ St. Augustine’s 

Claflin @ Winston-Salem State 7:30

Shaw @ Virginia State 7:30

Fayetteville State @ Livingstone 7:30

Virginia Union @ Bowie State 7:30

Elizabeth City State @ Lincoln 8:30

SIAC

Albany State @ Allen 4

BIG SOUTH

Hampton @ Radford 6:30

NC A&T @ UNC-Asheville 6:30

OTHERS

W. Va.State @ Glenville State 7:30

The post HBCU Basketball Rundown: Jan. 15 – 19, 2022 appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

With the victory, Lincoln moves its winning streak to seven. Four straight wins to start CIAA action is the best in school history.

As the game was hanging in the balance and the winning streak in peril, Lincoln head coach Corey Lowery listened to input from its leading scorer, Zahrion Blue (Princeton, N.J./Princeton). The junior saw something in the SAU defense that can be exploited, and he cashed in the confidence from his coach with a game-changing three-point play that tied the game at 58 with a little over four minutes remaining.

Lincoln tallied 12 consecutive points as part of the aforementioned run to seal the win.

Five different Falcons scored just a 13-3 run that enabled Saint Augustine’s to open up a game-high 12 points lead with three minutes remaining in the first half.

Senior Jordan Camper (Chester, Pa./Chester) scored five of eight points as Lincoln pulled to within four just ahead of halftime. The Lions used that momentum to crawl back into the contest as there were four lead changes and two ties in the second half.

Eventually the defensive pressure took over, and the Lions wrapped up its seventh consecutive victory.

Blue finished with 22 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting with two assists, while Camper came off the bench for 15 points — his second straight double-figure outing. Freshman Bakir Cleveland (Newark, N.J. /University) reached double digits for the fourth time in five games with 10 points. He added a team-high three assists.

Lincoln (11-4 overall, 4-0 CIAA) returns to action 4 p.m. Saturday, traveling to Bowie State.

The post Lincoln University survives scare to stay perfect in CIAA appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The Lions opened up the scoring with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Andrew Banks, followed by converted point after touchdown.  ECSU responded in the second quarter with a 12-yard passing touchdown from Kevin Caldwell to Josiah Hayes. Lincoln responded with a 27-yard Samuel Okezie-Imo field goal to end the first half. 

In the third quarter, Lincoln partially blocked a Brandon Joyner punt, and Lincoln recovered on the ECSU 3. Banks scored his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, this time from three yards.  Caldwell responded on the next drive with a 17 yard Caldwell pass to Zion Riddick. 

ECSU had an opportunity to go ahead late in the fourth quarter, but Tobias Winder fumbled the ball in the redzone and lost 11 yards.  That play put the Vikings in a fourth-and-long scenario from the LU 29 that they couldn’t convert.  ECSU has used various offensive and defensive players to kick extra points and kickoffs in this game, and thus elected not to attempt a field goal.

Lincoln controlled this game despite losing the turnover margin by two-to-one and having 118 penalty yards.  The Lions offense possessed the ball for 38 minutes, far above its 32-minute average. Lincoln rushed for 253 yards, nearly doubling their season output in rush yards.  The Lions averaged 1.2 yards a rushing play prior to this game, and rushed for five yards a play in this game.  Lincoln outgained ECSU 308-176 yards.  Lincoln also converted six 3rd- and 4th-down plays, doubling ECSU’s conversions, and extending drives. 

Lincoln University football will look to get a win streak going next week when it faces Virginia State.

The post Lincoln University football gets first win since 2018 appeared first on HBCU Gameday.