JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Amariontez Ivory led all scorers with 21 points and two other Blue Tigers finished in double figures, but the Lincoln men's basketball team dropped a 75-70 decision to Washburn on Saturday (Feb. 23).

Three Blue Tigers nearly recorded double-doubles, with Grant Olsson scoring 10 points to go with nine rebounds. Terrance Smith finished with nine points, nine boards, a block, a steal and an assist, and Ni'Sean Rigmaiden filled up his stat line with nine points, eight assists, six rebounds, a pair of steals and an assist.

In a game that featured four ties and seven lead changes, it was the turnovers that made the difference, as Washburn (21-5, 14-3 MIAA) scored 20 of its points off 17 LU turnovers. Lincoln (16-10, 9-8 MIAA) shot the ball better, going .481 from the field compared to .424 for the Ichabods, and LU held a commanding 40-29 advantage in rebounds.

Lincoln opened the game on a 12-3 run and led by eight with 11:05 to go in the first half, but Washburn answered by scoring 11 of the next 15 points to pull within 24-23. LU built back up a six-point lead with 3:40 remaining, but Washburn finished the half on a 10-3 run to go into the intermission up, 37-36.

A trey by Ivory early in the second half tied the game at 43, and another three-pointer by Ivory later put Lincoln ahead, 48-45. Washburn answered with a trey of its own, and regained the lead up until the 5:01 mark, when back-to-back dunks by Jonell Burton put the Blue Tigers on top, 63-61.

Lincoln would ultimately extend that lead to four points, but Washburn scored 10 unanswered points to go ahead, 73-68, entering the final 20 seconds of the ballgame. Ivory hit a layup to make it a three-point contest, then a stiff Blue Tiger defense led to WU turning the ball over on a five-second call, giving LU a chance at a tie. A three-pointer just missed the mark, however, and the Ichabods ended up escaping with the win.

Jonell Burton ended the day with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and a takeaway, and John Burton provided a rebound and an assist. L'Kielynn Taylor tallied four boards and a steal, and Darrius Spencer closed out the Blue Tigers with a pair of rebounds.

Lincoln will continue a four-game homestand on Wednesday (Feb. 27), as the Blue Tigers host Southwest Baptist at 7:30 p.m. CST.