TOPEKA, Kan. - The Lincoln men's basketball team made some clutch free throws late and got a big defensive stop in the waning seconds to beat Washburn, 75-73, on Thursday (Jan. 31).

It was the first win over Washburn since 1968-69 for the Blue Tigers, who improved to 14-5 overall and 7-3 in MIAA play. Lincoln shot .491 from the floor and .476 from beyond the arc while holding the Ichabods to .346 shooting from long range. Washburn falls to 14-5 on the season and 7-3 in conference play.

Amariontez Ivory knocked down six treys and led LU with 21 points while grabbing six rebounds. Two of those long-distance shots came in the first half, as Lincoln jumped out to a 15-3 lead to open the game. The Blue Tigers ultimately took a 36-29 lead into the intermission after holding the Ichabods to just one made trey in 10 attempts during the first 20 minutes of the contest.

Terrance Smith added 18 points, five boards and two blocks, and scored the final point of the game for LU. Lincoln led for nearly the entire game, though the Ichabods rallied to within one, 59-58, with 10:40 remaining. Ivory hit a three, Ni'Sean Rigmaiden made a pair of jumpers, and Grant Olsson later added a layup to eventually put Lincoln ahead by eight with 4:13 to play.

The Ichabods later battled back to within 73-71, though free throws by Ivory and Smith helped LU maintain the lead. After Smith went 1-and-1 at the line in the final seconds, WU drove down the court and threw up a three, but it ricocheted harmlessly off the backboard as LU secured the win.

Rigmaiden ended his night with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals, and Olsson added six points, tying John Burton. Jonell Burton provided eight points and a team-high seven rebounds as well as two blocks, and L'Kielynn Taylor closed the scoring with a layup. Taylor also had six rebounds and two assists.

Lincoln, which has now won two in a row, will try to pick up a third-straight victory on Saturday (Feb. 2) when the Blue Tigers travel to Emporia, Kan. for a 3:30 p.m. CST match-up with Emporia State.