ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Jaylon Smith scored 33 points and the Lincoln men's basketball team used a big second half to defeat Missouri Western, 78-67, on Thursday night (Feb. 23).

Smith also grabbed eight rebounds, recorded two steals, blocked a shot and dished an assist to lead LU back from a 31-27 halftime deficit. Anthony Virdure posted a double-double, scoring 20 points grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds. Virdure also had a block and a pair of assists.

Lincoln (16-11, 9-9 MIAA) out-scored Missouri Western (7-20, 3-15 MIAA), 51-36, in the second half, shooting .567 from the floor while holding a 22-15 edge in rebounds during the period. The Blue Tigers turned the ball over just twice in the second half and Smith scored 24 of his points over the game's final 20 minutes.

Missouri Western scored the first bucket of the second half, but back-to-back makes by Rod Ollison and Virdure pulled the Blue Tigers back within two. The teams exchanged baskets until a three-pointer by Smith put LU on top, 40-39, with 13:57 to play. MWSU answered with four-straight points, but another trey from Smith tied the game back up at 43.

After a pair of free throws by MWSU, Virdure made two shots of his own at the line, and Smith then followed with a dunk to spark the Blue Tigers on a 20-10 run. That put LU up 63-53 with 4:15 to play, and Missouri Western never got closer than within seven the rest of the way.

Ollison finished with 11 points, four rebounds and an assist while O'Shai Clark provided five points, a steal and a rebound. Chase Morfeld, Maurice Mason and Richie Lewis rounded out the scoring with three points apiece, and Kevin Bolen grabbed a pair of rebounds. Lewis led LU with three steals and had three boards while Mason finished with five rebounds and three blocks.

Lincoln will close out the regular season on the road on Saturday (Feb. 25), as the Blue Tigers travel to Maryville, Mo. to play Northwest Missouri at 3:30 p.m. CST.