Lincoln University Athletics

After completing solid two-year careers at Lincoln University, both Ralph Mata and Joe Hutchingson have continued to play the game of basketball outside of America, realizing their dreams of playing basketball professionally.

Once Mata’s time at Lincoln ended, he was the first of the two to venture into the international realm of professional basketball, heading to the Dominican Republic.

 "I had the chance to go to both the Dominican Republic and Mexico, but I always liked the island better," Mata said. "I have family that is over here, so it was more convenient for me to come this way to begin my professional career."

 Mata played for Santo Domingo his first turn through playing for the top league of Club Los Mina. During his time there, he averaged 11.3 points per game and six assists. He was selected to the All-Star game and scored 13 points in the contest. Also in 2008, Mata played for Club La Matica averaging 11.8 points per game and 4.7 assists and was second in the league in three-point shooting percentage at 47 percent and was again selected an All-Star.

 "It was always a dream of mine to play professionally-no matter where I had to go," Mata said. "The physical aspect of the game is a lot different, as well as the fans, as you are playing in front of 8,000 people almost every game."

 Hutchingson concluded his senior season at Lincoln in 2009, finishing second on the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game, while adding 50 assists, eight blocks and 32 steals in 23 games. Hutchingson went with the chance to play professionally in Mexico, and is currently a member of the Toros Nuevo Laredo, where he opened his first game with six points.

 "Playing professionally has always been a goal of mine, I just had to finish school," Hutchingson said. "I ended up in Mexico because I was able to gain Mexican citizenship because of my mom being Mexican. With the rules in Mexico, you are only able to have three American players on the roster, so it is kind of like having four on the team because I have dual citizenship."

 Hutchingson has also noticed the same things on the floor that Mata has faced since they both went professional.

 "Everybody who steps on the court here can play," Hutchingson said. "All the players are stronger and are very basketball savvy, as they know what’s going on at all times on the court. Everything moves faster with the shot clock being shorter, but that adjustment isn’t too hard because you just have to shoot when you get the open shot."

 While both have had the chance to taste what it's like to play outside of college and America, both plan to keep playing internationally as long as possible.

 "For the future, I plan on doing this basketball dream for a while," Hutchingson said. "I want to go as far as it will take me. I absolutely love what I am doing, as I am living my dream."

 "I plan to continue playing internationally," Mata said. "I am looking at a couple deals to play in Spain, France, Brazil and Venezuela, so hopefully one of those will break soon and I can continue the dream."

 Mata and Hutchingson each transferred to Lincoln and had the chance to play for the Blue Tigers for two years, with the two playing on the same court together in 2008.

 "It was great getting the chance to play with players like Ralph," Hutchingson said. "He’s very competitive and brings a lot of skills to the game; a very creative player. I just wish that we could have played together more than we did."

 The two posted nearly identical numbers during their one year together at Lincoln during the 2007-08 season, as both tallied over 10 points per game and nearly averaged the same amount of minutes on the floor, while Mata dished out 166 assists and 51 steals.

 While both played for then Head Coach Charles Terry, they will both take away different memories of their careers at Lincoln.

 "Some of my best memories came from being in the locker room or weight room talking to (John Redmond) and hearing all the crazy stuff he talked about," Hutchingson said. "Redmond always comes with an interesting perspective that we all could somehow picture or relate too; he's a one-of-a-kind type of guy."

 "I was limited a little bit when I first arrived at Lincoln, but Coach Terry began to just put the ball in my hands and let me go after it, which was hard at times with a point guard trying to carry eight players," Mata said.

 Coach Redmond also remembers both players and how both were always willing to improve.

 "Both of them came back this past summer to get extra work in with the team during preseason," he said. "Joe is a good two, three man and is a great kid that just wanted to get better no matter what he had to do."

 "Ralph is an excellent point guard, as he was here when I arrived here," Redmond said. "He is a good scorer and came from a winning attitude with the success he had at Mineral Area Community College before arriving at Lincoln. Very coachable player, as like Joe, has a great work ethic and always wanting to improve."