JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Jonell Burton came close to a double-double, finishing with 18 points and eight rebounds, but the Lincoln men's basketball team dropped an 87-53 decision to Northwest Missouri on Thursday (Dec. 5).

Jonell Burton also blocked two shots and had an assist while Marcel Burton posted 11 points and Cameron Potts supplied 12, Lincoln (2-5, 0-1 MIAA) forced Northwest Missouri (8-0, 1-0 MIAA) into 11 turnovers, but the Bearcats shot .543 from the floor and finished with a 34-26 advantage in rebounding.

The Bearcats scored the first five points of the game and led 16-9 with 13:04 until halftime, but Potts hit a layup and Jonell Burton made a trey off a steal from Marcus Cohen to bring the Blue Tigers back within two. Cohen also dished three assists and grabbed seven rebounds on the evening.

After forcing a turnover, Lincoln had the opportunity to take the lead, but a trey attempt went off the mark and the teams ended up trading buckets over the next four possessions. Northwest Missouri, the No. 1 team in the country according to the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II poll, went on a 22-7 run over the last eight minutes of the half to take a 42-25 lead into the break.

Jordan Notch added six points and Joe Davis contributed four points and a pair of rebounds to the Blue Tiger cause. DJ Ward closed the scoring with two points and a rebound, while L'Kielynn Taylor rejected two shots and DaMani Jarrett had a steal.

Lincoln will continue its MIAA slate on Saturday (Dec. 7) when the Blue Tigers host Missouri Western for a 3:00 p.m. CST contest.