My parents graduated from Lincoln University in 1957, and our family made occasional homecoming trips to Jefferson City. Part of the weekend included Lincoln’s homecoming football game, where I experienced my first ‘tailgating.’ Lots of food, lots of drinks, lots of laughs for the adult revelers.
Since those late 60s early 70s days, I’ve still followed Lincoln athletics if only through box scores. The St. Louis area is home to thousands of Lincoln alums, and many families have multiple generations that graduated as Blue Tigers.
They keep a respective eye on Lincoln’s athletic teams too, apparently, because fans of the HBCU turned out in force at Lindenwood University this past weekend for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
Lincoln, the tournament’s No. 4 seed, earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II men’s basketball Tournament by winning the GLVC title game over University of Missouri-St. Louis 58-51. It will mark Lincoln’s first visit to the national tournament since 1981.
Andreas Fuller, the tournament MVP, remains on a basketball journey that began at the University of Central Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree.
He was a redshirt non-participant as a freshman then played in 67 games with 27 starts over three seasons. He averaged 5.7 points per game with 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
He would redshirt again for Florida Atlantic during the 2022-23 season before transferring to Texas San Antonio. Fuller started 22 of 32 games there and averaged 9.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
With a year of eligibility remaining, Fuller found himself at Lincoln and he turned in one of his best games of the season in the tournament championship game. He led the Tigers with 19 points, six rebounds and chipped in a pair of assists.
Lincoln advanced in a Friday quarterfinal game by topping Lewis 62-59, which earned the Tigers a semifinal showdown with Missouri S&T. S&T was the top seed and was ranked 10th in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll.
Behind a 50-point second half, which included five players in double-figures, the Blue Tigers pulled off the 87-62 upset in dominant fashion.
Malcolm Davis led Lincoln with 20 points, five rebounds and an assist. Tyler Chapman tallied 17 points, and Fuller posted a great all-around effort with 15 points, six boards, a team-high four assists and two steals.
Lincoln earned a No. 7 seed in its bracket of the NCAA Division II tournament and will open play on the road against No.2 seed Lake Superior State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday March 15.
Both UM-St. Louis and S&T received at-large berths to the tournament after falling to Lincoln in the GLVC tournament.
The No. 4 seed Tritons will host No. 5 seed Ferris State at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and top-seed S&T will take on visiting No. 8 seed Malone at 5 p.m. Saturday.
The Reid RoundupJayson Tatum poured in 40 points to lead the Boston Celtics over the L.A. Lakers 111-101 last Saturday night in a nationally televised game. “The NBA is a better place when the Lakers and Celtics are good,” he said… Cuonzo Martin’s return to Missouri State as basketball coach was not storybook. His team finished last in the Missouri Valley Conference as it departs the MVC for Conference USA…St. Louis native Kyren Williams received good news on Sunday. The running back learned the Los Angeles Rams will sign three-time All Pro receiver Davante Adams to a two-year $46-million deal…St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher prospect Tink Hence was optioned to Double-A Springfield. Hence overcame injuries at Springfield last season to post a 2.82 ERA over 79.2 innings and seems destined for Triple-A Memphis this season…The Pittsburgh Steelers traded a 2025 second-round draft pick to acquire receiver DK Metcalf. He will join fellow head-case receiver George Pickens, and egoistic Aaron Rodgers might be the team’s QB. Good luck with all that coach Mike Tomlin.