Lincoln University, a founding member of the CIAA, finally did something it had never done in its history.
Lincoln University came up with a gritty 54-51 win over Fayetteville State in the CIAA Tournament to bring home its first conference tournament title. Lincoln improved to 17-13 overall and will represent the CIAA in the NCAA Division II Tournament later this month.
Ethan Garita scored a team-high 15 points on six-for-nine shooting and blocked three shots to lead the way for Lincoln, which shot 38 percent from the field for the game. Fayetteville State shot just 30 percent for the game as it was led by Caleb Simmons with 21 points and six rebounds in the loss. Simmons was two-for-two from the 3-point line. The rest of his team, however, shot 3-for-19.
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.