JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Central Oklahoma shot .510 from the floor and .450 from three-point range to hand the Lincoln men's basketball team a 78-70 loss on Thursday evening (Jan. 5).

Anthony Virdure led Lincoln with 23 points, scoring 16 of those points in the first half, six assists, three steals and a pair of blocks. Joining Virdure in double figures was Jaylon Smith, who added 12 points and a pair of steals. Smith also grabbed four rebounds while Virdure pulled down three.

Lincoln (9-5, 2-3 MIAA) led for most of the first half. Central Oklahoma (9-4, 4-1 MIAA) tied the score at 20 with eight minutes to play and, with four minutes remaining, knotted the score up at 30-all. A three-pointer by Chase Morfeld put the Blue Tigers back on top, but three free throws by the Bronchos later gave UCO a 35-34 advantage. A pair of shots by Virdure at the charity stripe gave Lincoln back a one-point advantage, but Central Oklahoma scored the final five points of the half to take a 40-36 lead into the break.

Five-straight points from Smith early in the second half returned the lead to Lincoln, Smith later made a layup to give LU a 52-45 advantage. The Bronchos responded with an 11-4 run to tie the score at 56, but another trey from Morfeld gave LU back the lead. With 8:28 remaining, however, Central Oklahoma tied the score at 60, and later forced a 67-67 tie with 3:26 to play. The Bronchos then scored the next six points of the contest to take a lead they would never relinquish.

Tacourrus Mattox came close to a double-double, finishing with nine points, nine rebounds and three assists. Maurice Mason also grabbed nine boards and matched Morfeld with six points and two assists. Morfeld also tallied a pair of steals.

Rod Ollison and O'Shai Clark each finished with four points and a pair of rebounds, and Kevin Bolen and Richie Lewis finished with three points apiece. Bolen additionally grabbed three boards, and Lewis contributed two steals.

The Blue Tigers will be back at home on Saturday (Jan. 7) to host Northeastern State at 3:30 p.m. CST.