EMPORIA, Kan. - Four Blue Tigers scored in double figures and the Lincoln men's basketball team out-scored Emporia State by 10 in the second half en route to a 69-58 victory on Saturday night (Dec. 17).

Anthony Virdure, Maurice Mason and Jaylon Smith each scored 14 points for the Blue Tigers, who improved to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play. Virdure also led LU with eight assists and tied Smith with seven rebounds while tallying a pair of steals. Mason dished four assists and recorded a team-high three steals while Smith added two assists and a block.

Emporia State (4-6, 1-2 MIAA) took a 9-6 lead five minutes into the game, and had a 24-18 advantage with 4:30 until halftime. Smith scored nine-straight points, hitting a pair of threes, a free throw and a layup, to put Lincoln ahead by three, and a jumper from Rod Ollison gave LU the 29-24 advantage. ESU scored the final four points of the period to cut LU's lead down to one entering the intermission.

The second half, however, belonged to Lincoln. Smith made a jumper to put the Blue Tigers ahead 44-34 with 13:16 remaining, and Virdure later made it a 14-point game with a layup to put LU on top 52-38 with eight minutes remaining. The Hornets did not get the deficit down to single digits until a pair of free throws made it 64-56 with a minute remaining, but a big three by Mason ended any hopes of an ESU comeback.

Tacourrus Mattox provided 12 points and six rebounds while Darrius Spencer added six points and O'Shai Clark scored five. Spencer additionally pulled down two rebounds. Chase Morfeld contributed two points and three rebounds to the winning cause while Ollison grabbed two boards and Alexander Nailes finished with one.

The Blue Tigers will stay on the road on Monday night (Nov. 19), as Lincoln travels to Topeka, Kan. to face Washburn at 7:30 p.m. CST.