Lincoln University, Pa. - For the fourth time in its last five games the Millersville men's basketball team held a first-half lead. But for the fourth time in the last five games, Millersville surrendered that lead. On Saturday at Lincoln, Millersville squandered a 19-point lead and lost 68-65--its fifth consecutive defeat.

In its last five losses, Millersville has held a double-digit lead in four of the games. Through six games, Millersville has been out-scored 265-218 in the second half of games despite out-scoring teams 221-206 in the first half.

In the opening 14 minutes of the game, Millersville hit 11 of 21 shots, 4 of 11 from three and 5 of 6 from the line while holding Lincoln to 4 of 17 shooting. That play put the Marauders in front 31-12 with just over five minutes left in the first half. The Marauders took a 14-point lead into the break.

But the lead dissipated in a hurry. Lincoln opened the second frame on an 18-5 run in which Millersville shot 2 of 7 and Lincoln hit four threes. That cut Millersville's lead down to one. Millersville stayed in front, and a Mark Perry bucket with 8:24 to play pushed the advantage to 54-45. But Lincoln answered with a 9-0 as Millersville missed its next five shots. Miles Markland hit a 3-pointer with 2:48 left to give Lincoln its first lead at 61-58. He scored again to push the advantage to five on the next Lincoln possession.

With 19 second left on the clock, Jordan Greene converted a three-point play to bring Millersville to within 66-65. Millersville fouled to stop the clock, sending Markland to the the line. He missed the front end of the one-and-one, Greene grabbed the rebound, but a Millersville turnover three seconds later ended the Marauders' chances.

Lincoln out-scored Millersville 56-34 over the final 25 minutes of the game. Lincoln shot 50 percent from the field, 7 of 14 from three and 13 of 16 from the line during that stretch while Millersville made just 12 of 37 shots. Millersville shot 33.3 percent in the second half after shooting 44 percent in the first.

Conrad Chambers led Millersville with 17 points. Marcus Adkison, with 13 points, was the only other Marauder to reach double figures.

Five of Millersville's first six games have been played away from Pucillo Gymnasium. The Marauders have three home games in the coming week, beginning Tuesday against Penn State Berks.