NC State Basketball Great Leads Lincoln to Ironic Tournament Victory
First-year Lincoln Lions head coach and former NC State basketball star Julius Hodge improved to 7-5 via his squad's 78-70 win over Kentucky State on Friday. With the victory in Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Arena, the Lions (7-5, 2-0 CIAA) captured the Chris Paul HBCU Classic crown.
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Of course, the tournament title is ironic in light of Julius Hodge's heated ACC rivalry with Chris Paul in the early 2000s, culminating in Paul's punch to Hodge's crotch during a clash in Raleigh.
After taking home the hardware on Friday, the 41-year-old Hodge gave a shoutout to the Chris Paul Family Foundation for hosting the event:
Congrats to our squad on winning the Chris Paul HBCU Classic championship!
— Julius Hodge (@Follow24Hodge) December 20, 2024
A wonderfully ran event by @chrispaulfamfdn at the @MoheganSun.
This was an amazing set up w/ lodging, catered meals, entertainment, etc. TOP OF THE LINE!#WaterTheGarden 🪴🚿#LincolnLions 🦁💍 pic.twitter.com/HqEZiVbsFZ
And in the following post 30 minutes later, Hodge summarized his "Discipline, Accountability, Respect, Perseverance" message to his team:
Never get too high, never get too low.
— Julius Hodge (@Follow24Hodge) December 20, 2024
Expect greatness, fight adversity.
The Standard is the standard.
Discipline, Accountability, Respect, Perseverance.#LincolnLions
🦁🪴🚿 pic.twitter.com/gT9dPK5zPw
A three-time All-ACC performer and the 2003-04 ACC Player of the Year under former NC State basketball head coach Herb Sendek, Hodge made his debut as a head coach against former ACC foe Duke. His Lions fell to Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils, 107-56, in an exhibition bout in Cameron Indoor Stadium two months ago.
Julius Hodge and his Lincoln Lions are now gearing up for a road bout against Livingstone in Salisbury, N.C., at 4 p.m. ET Sunday. It'll be Lincoln's second trip to North Carolina in the regular season, as the Lions prevailed at Johnson C. Smith in Charlotte on Monday.
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.