Lincoln Basketball Beats Rickards to Stay Undefeated

On December 5, the Lincoln Trojans (6–0) took on the Rickards Raiders (3–3) in an exciting non-conference matchup. Lincoln, riding a five game winning streak, entered the night looking to extend their undefeated start to the season. Rickards, meanwhile, came into the contest fresh off an overtime thriller against Leon just days earlier and hoped to secure another win, preferably without the need for extra minutes this time around. 

The Trojans opened the game on a hot start, fueled by an aggressive and disruptive defense paired with a well-structured and fluid offense. Early on, forward Malakhi Lowe set the tone with a dominant presence in the paint, chipping in key buckets that helped build early momentum. Rickards, meanwhile, struggled to find offensive rhythm, routinely turning the ball over and missing clean looks at the rim. The lone bright spot for the Raiders was forward Calvin Thomas, who knocked down a few tough mid-range shots to keep his team afloat. Lincoln closed the first quarter with a 15 to 8 lead.

Going into the second quarter, Rickards finally began to gain some offensive momentum. After a few good looks and a big three from Thomas, the Raiders cut the deficit to 18 to 15, which was the closest they would be all night. Lincoln responded immediately. Guard Jaylin Parrish sparked a run with a few aggressive drives to the rim, and Lowe added a timely three to stretch the lead to 23 to 18. Despite Thomas continuing to produce for Rickards, Lincoln maintained control and went into halftime up 27 to 21.

Starting the second half, Lincoln came out aggressive again, turning up their defensive pressure and continuing to force turnovers. Their ability to get downhill offensively pushed the lead to 32 to 25 with about three minutes left in the third quarter. Thomas remained the driving force for the Raiders, collapsing the defense and creating opportunities for teammates. His efforts helped trim the margin to 33 to 28, but every time Rickards made progress, Lincoln answered. The Trojans eventually put together a 10 point unanswered run, pushing the lead to 41 to 31 before closing the quarter ahead 42 to 34.

Lincoln opened the fourth quarter with another strong burst, quickly extending the lead to 48 to 34. Midway through the period, the Trojans changed their approach by slowing the pace, moving the ball around the perimeter, and using the clock to their advantage while staying in control. Rickards eventually mounted one last push. The Raiders converted a four-point play with 51 seconds left to cut the score to 51 to 43. Moments later, Steve Koonce Jr. knocked down a big shot to make it 52 to 46 with 24 seconds remaining. Lincoln held firm on the final possession, stopping the late surge. Final Score, Lincoln 54, Rickards 46.

Notable performances for Lincoln, Forward Malakhi Lowe (Sr.) finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, and Guard Kyel Chambliss (Jr.) added 10 points, including 2 made threes while shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc.