JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Rod Ollison hit the game-winning layup with three seconds remaining, and the Lincoln men's basketball team defeated Emporia State, 73-71, in the first round of the 2016 MIAA Men's Basketball Championship on Tuesday night (March 1).

It was a one-point game at halftime, with the Blue Tigers holding a 34-33 advantage. The Hornets hit a layup out of the gate to take their first lead of the contest, but a layup from Aaron Spudich gave the Blue Tigers back the lead. A three-pointer swung the advantage back to ESU, but that ended up being the last lead of the night for Emporia State. Ollison hit a pair of free throws on the ensuing LU possession to begin a 19-3 Lincoln run, giving the Blue Tigers control of the game.

Lincoln (16-13) led by 14, 70-56, with five minutes remaining, but Emporia State (13-16) wasn't quite ready for its season to end. The Hornets hit a trey to start a 13-0 run to close the gap down to one point with just under a minute to play. Tacourrus Mattox was fouled and went to the line, but made just one of his two free throw attempts, giving ESU back the ball with just a two-point deficit. Lincoln was called for a foul during the next possession, and Emporia State's Terrence Moore made both of his shots at the line to tie the score up at 71.

The Blue Tigers got the ball back with 30 seconds to play, and used up half of that time before calling a timeout. Out of the break, Jaylon Smith got the ball and swung it to the corner to Richie Lewis. Ollison then found his way under the basket, and Lewis made a nice pass to feed him the ball for the game-winning layup. Emporia State got the ball back, but the LU defense forced the Hornets into attempting a desperation three that clanked off the top of the backboard, sealing Lincoln's first playoff win since 1987.

Ollison was one of four Blue Tigers to score in double-figures, as he finished with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block. Anthony Virdure led the team with 19 points and five assists while also recording a block, a steal and a rebound. Smith added 15 points, a team-high six rebounds, a pair of assists and a steal to the Lincoln cause. Lewis, meanwhile, finished with 17 points, three boards, four assists and a game-high four steals.

Lincoln shot .520 from the floor in the second half and .451 for the game, and made 21 of its 29 shots at the free throw line (.724). The Blue Tigers allowed ESU to make just eight of its 23 three-point attempts (.348), but ESU was a little better offensively, shooting .473 from the floor. Emporia State entered the game leading the MIAA in turnover margin, but the Blue Tigers forced the Hornets into 16 giveaways while turning the ball over themselves only six times. ESU finished with a 33-22 edge in rebounding.

O'Shai Clark scored five points for the Blue Tigers and grabbed three rebounds while tallying an assist. Spudich added four points and a rebound while DeAnthony Wilson also grabbed a board.

With the win, Lincoln advances to the quarterfinals of the MIAA Men's Basketball Championship, which will be played on Friday (March 4) at Municipal Auditorium. The Blue Tigers will take on Nebraska-Kearney, with tip-off scheduled for 2:15 p.m. CST.