JCSU Cruises Past Lincoln in CIAA Opener
JCSU Sports Information
Box Score Charlotte, N.C. (Dec 15, 2015) – The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team had four players score in double figures, led by senior
Stedmon Lemon's (Lithonia, Ga.) 25 points en route to a 90-79 win over visiting Lincoln in the CIAA opener for both teams on Tuesday evening at Brayboy Gym.
In addition to Lemon, fellow senior's
Diondre Pratt (Morven, N.C.) and
Joshua Linson (San Antonio, Tex.) had 24 and 12 points, respectively. Sophomore guard
Robert Davis (West Friendship, Md.) had 11 points and dished six assists for JCSU.
The Golden Bulls started out hot, bolting to an early 9-4 lead after Lemon had three baskets, including two dunks, and Linson buried a deep three pointer at the 17:35 mark. JCSU would build the lead to 12 points at 21-9 after Pratt knocked down a jumper with 11:32 left.
The JCSU lead would grow to as many as 13 points with a Lemon free throw made it 31-18 at the 6:28 mark. Lincoln would try to chip away, closing the gap to eight points at 33-25 after a Joshua Hill three pointer. The Golden Bulls would then boost their lead to 14 when Linson hit a three pointer with 3.6 seconds before the halftime buzzer to provide the 43-29 halftime advantage.
In the second half, JCSU again held Lincoln at bay and extended the lead to 54-36 at the 15:48 mark when Lemon knocked down a three of his own.
The lead would swell to 23 points when
Dominic Fumbanks (Milwaukee, Wisc.) scored a fast break basket when
Dre Huntley (Charlotte, N.C.) boarded a Lincoln miss and pushed the play ahead, beating the Lion defenders.
Lincoln would then trim the JCSU lead to 16 points on a Jordan Watson free throw and then to 14 points when Quaman Burton connected on a jumper with 7:01 left.
The JCSU lead would shrink to 73-62 when Burton converted an old-fashioned three point play, drawing a foul and connecting on the layup. His free throw was good at the 6:35 mark.
Robert Davis would drain a three pointer from the corner to push the Golden Bulls lead to 78-64. Lincoln would then go on a 9-3 run to close the gap to 82-73 with 1:27 left after a steal and layup from Malachi Seney. Following a Lion timeout, Huntley earned a trip to the free throw line where he connected on both shots to extend the lead to 84-73. After a Lincoln miss, JCSU would get to the line again, this time getting two free throws from
Diondre Pratt, making it 86-73 with 1:05 left.
Lincoln would work their way to the foul line with 32 seconds left, hitting two free throws to close to within 86-76. The Lions would draw to within 86-79 but could get no closer as JCSU took the 90-79 decision.
Post Game Interview
