JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Jaylon Smith tallied his 1,000th career point as a Blue Tiger and finished with a game-high 25 to lead the Lincoln men's basketball team to an 84-64 win over Missouri Western on Saturday (Feb. 4).

Smith became the 22nd Blue Tiger to reach 1,000 career points, joining teammate Anthony Virdure, who accomplished the feat back on Jan. 18. Smith and Virdure are the only two Blue Tigers ever to reach 1,000 points in just two seasons, and are the first pair of LU teammates with 1,000 career points to play on the same Lincoln squad since 1978, when Harold Robertson and Tim Abney finished their careers together. In addition to scoring 25 points, Smith also finished the day with four rebounds, four steals, a block and an assist.

O'Shai Clark came close to a double-double after scoring 11 points and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Virdure, meanwhile, ended the afternoon with 13 points, six assists, a pair of steals, three rebounds and a block. Tacourrus Mattox was next on the scoring list with nine points, two boards and a steal.

Lincoln (14-9, 7-7 MIAA) had one of its hottest shooting nights of the season, as the Blue Tigers shot .577 from the floor and .400 from three-point range. The Blue Tigers held Missouri Western (7-15, 3-10 MIAA) to .333 shooting in the first half en route to a 47-27 lead at halftime. The Blue Tigers also forced Missouri Western into 16 turnovers and came away with nine steals.

Richie Lewis and Chase Morfeld each had one of those takeaways, with Lewis also finishing with seven points, five rebounds and four assists. Morfeld, meanwhile, added five points and two boards. Maurice Mason tallied LU's third and final block and recorded four points, two rebounds and an assist on the afternoon.

The Blue Tigers out-rebounded the Griffons, 33-24, and received 28 points from its bench in the win. At one point in the second half, Lincoln led by 30 points, and held a 78-49 advantage with just under five minutes remaining. Missouri Western eventually managed to cut its deficit down to 18, but a layup from Kevin Bolen and a pair of Lewis free throws helped LU secure the 20-point victory.

Bolen had four points and five rebounds on the day while Rod Ollison tallied four points and a rebound in the second half. Deionte Wilson rounded out the scoring with two points, a rebound and an assist. Darrius Spencer also had an assist in the win.

Lincoln will close out its home slate next Saturday (Feb. 11) when the Blue Tigers host Lindenwood at 3:30 p.m. CST. It will be Senior Day, and a ceremony will be held before the game to honor Clark, Lewis, Mattox, Ollison, Smith and Virdure.