CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Xavier Jones scored a new career-high 26 points, including 16 in the first half to lead the Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team to 95-81 win over Lincoln (Pa.) Saturday afternoon inside Brayboy Gymnasium

The victory improves Smith to 4-1 on the year while the Lions dip to 1-6 on the season. The win gave the Golden Bulls its fourth-straight.

Both teams started out the contest neck-and-neck with one another, including three lead changes and three ties but in the last 2:00 of the first half, Smith went on a 6-2 run led by Justice Goodloe that put the Golden Bulls ahead 40-35 at the break.
 
The second half would be all Smith as the Golden Bulls opened the stanza with a 9-0 scoring margin in the first 3:00 of play. The Lions tried to close the gap, pulling within 12 (72-60) at the 9:14 mark but the Golden Bulls exploded to their largest lead of the evening at 21 points thanks to explosive shooting from Cayse Minor. 

Minor, in the first half nailed a three pointer to earn his 1,001 point in his four years here at Smith.