ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team held off a late charge to pick up its second straight win, 76-68 over Lincoln Saturday in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Missouri Western led by 16 with 4:04 to go, but Lincoln cut the lead to five with 32 seconds left on a 13-2 run. The Griffons scored the final three points, all on free throws to ice the game and give Missouri Western a season split with the Blue Tigers.

Lincoln started the game on a roll, jumping out to an 18-6 lead with 14:55 to go in the first half. Missouri Western closed the half on a 38-15 run that included nine made threes to take a 41-33 lead to halftime. The Griffons went 1-11 from behind the arc in the second half, but the 10th three moved the team to 6-0 this season when it makes 10 or more three pointers. Missouri Western shot 40.7 percent from the field and out-rebounded Lincoln 41-34.

Trey Sampson led the Griffons with 22 points on 5-12 shooting from three point range. Currie Byrd added 14 on 4-5 shooting from the field. Mataika Koyamainavure had a team-high seven rebounds and Cole Clearman finished with four assists.

The win improved Missouri Western to 8-15 overall and 6-11 in the MIAA and lifted the team into 10th place in the MIAA standings, the final spot that will qualify for the MIAA Tournament. Lincoln fell to 12-11 and 8-9. The Griffons go to Oklahoma next week to face Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma.

— MWSU Athletics —