JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Western Men’s Basketball (10-13, 4-8 MIAA) suffered a 66-52 loss at Lincoln (16-5, 9-3 MIAA) on Thursday night. The Griffons held Lincoln to just 27 points in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit.

NOTABLES

• After a slow start for Missouri Western, JJ Jones sank a pair of free throws to bring the Griffons within reach at 26-22.
• Lincoln closed out the first half on a 13-2 run, holding the Griffons without a made field goal for the final five minutes of the half.
• The Griffons trailed 39-24 going into halftime, shooting 25 percent from the field.
• Bryan Hudson led the Griffons with nine points in the first half.
• Lavon Hightower’s jumper capped a 9-0 run to cut the Lincoln deficit to eight points with 11:32 left in the game.
• The Blue Tigers held on to a double-digit lead for the final 10 minutes of the game to secure the victory.
• The Griffons outscored Lincoln 28-27 in the second half, holding the Blue Tigers to just 29 percent shooting.
• Lincoln’s 66 points is the second-fewest allowed by the Griffons this season.

LEADERS

• Hudson tied for a team-high with 11 points and also pulled down eight rebounds.
• Tyrell Carroll set a new career-high with five steals to go along with his 11 points.
• Lincoln’s Terrance Smith finished with a game-high 25 points.

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western will play at Lindenwood (11-13, 4-8 MIAA) on Saturday, Feb. 9.
• The Lions topped the Griffons 75-58 on Dec. 6 in teams’ first meeting.

— MWSU Athletics —