Boxscore


RALEIGH, N.C. - Junior forward Tyquan Stroman (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) of Saint Augustine's College capped a 22-point night with a key block and two free throws in the last second to preserve a 60-56 Falcon men's basketball victory over Lincoln (Pa.) University Thursday (Jan. 5) in the CIAA season opener at Emery Gymnasium.
 
Stroman blocked a shot in the lane with 1.1 seconds left to prevent Lincoln from tying the score. His two free throws after a technical foul on the Lincoln bench clinched the win for the Falcons, who upped their record to 1-0 in the CIAA and 6-5 overall. Lincoln dropped to 0-1 in the CIAA and 5-7 overall.
 
The Falcons average 74 points a game, but their defense keyed the victory after trailing most of the contest. They overcame an 11-point deficit to tie the score at 37-37 early in the second half only to watch the Lions reel off nine straight points to regain control.
 
The Falcons shackled the Lions from that point, going on a 19-6 run to surge ahead 56-52 with three minutes left. Stroman scored seven points during the spurt and both Nick Chamblee (Hampton, Va.) and Jon Kindred (Raleigh, N.C.) made key baskets.
 
Two Lincoln free throws trimmed the Falcons' lead to 57-56 with 1:19 left, but Chris Rhodes (Greenville, S.C.) canned one of two free throws to push the lead to two with 26 seconds remaining.
 
Denzel Mooney of the Lions drove to the basket for the game-tying layup, but he was met by Stroman, whose long arms swatted the ball away from the rim. The ball went out-of-bounds after a mad scramble, and the Falcons were awarded possession. The Lincoln bench was assessed a technical after disputing the call. Stroman knocked down both free throws to put the finishing touch on the contest.
 
This was by far the best performance from Stroman in his four-game career with the Falcons. He was 9-for-16 from the floor and snatched a team-high seven rebounds. Kindred added nine points and played tight defense on Mooney, the Lions' team scoring leader, who scored 13 points on 5-for-16 shooting. Chamblee finished with seven points and five rebounds. Both Chamblee and Kindred keyed the Falcon bench, which outscored the Lincoln bench 26-7.
 
Kyle Allen led the Lions with 16 points and Justin Jackson tied Mooney with 13 points for the Lions, who were forced into 23 percent shooting in the second half after making 48 percent of their shots in the first half for a 37-33 halftime lead.
 
This was the first of four consecutive home games for the Falcons, who host Virginia State Monday (Jan. 9) at 7:30 p.m.