VIKINGS WIN SEASON OPENER; EDGE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY 79-77
Viking Take Lead Late in Second Half to Win Home Opener Monday Night at R.L. Vaughan Center
April J. Emory
11/20/07

 

ELIZABETH CITY, NC- The Elizabeth City State University Vikings won their season opener with a hard fought 79-77 come from behind victory over Lincoln (PA) University Monday evening at the R.L. Vaughan Center.

The Vikings, who trailed by seven at the break (39-32), outscored Lincoln 47-38 in the second half to earn the win. ECSU took the lead for the first time (65-64) in the second stanza on a Matt Nowlin 3-pointer with 5:48 to go in the game. The Lions (0-3) did fight back to tie the game at 75 with 1:23 remaining  but only after three free throws by Anthony Hilliard and a subsequent block of a Jermaine Russell layup by James Jeffries in the waning moments, were the Vikings were able to preserve the victory.  With 6 seconds left Jeffries made another key defensive play with a steal to deny the Lions an opportunity at a legitimate attempt to send the game to overtime.

The Vikings received a big spark in bench points courtesy of career highs from senior Olajuwon Johnson of 22 points and 13 rebounds, giving ECSU a 28-9 reserve advantage.  Hilliard led all scorers with 26 points.

Russell led Lincoln with a team high 25 points and a game high 4 blocks.

The Vikings will return to the R.L. Vaughan Center on Tuesday, November 27^th as they will open up CIAA play against Johnson C. Smith University. Game time is scheduled for 7:30pm.