JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln men's basketball team led for much of the first half, but Northwest Missouri, ranked No. 1 in the country in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II poll, pulled away for a 75-57 win on Saturday (Feb. 9).

Lincoln (16-6, 9-4 MIAA) shot the ball better than the Bearcats, hitting 49-percent of their attempts from the floor while NWMSU shot .407. LU was also .235 at the line, compared to .185 for NWMSU, and had three blocks while the Bearcats had none. Northwest Missouri held a slight 34-31 lead in rebounds, but the biggest difference came at the line, as NWSMU made 22 of 26 free throw tries while the Blue Tigers were five-for-eight.

The Blue Tigers scored the first four points of the game and held a 7-2 lead early before going ahead 22-16 on a Ni'Sean Rigmaiden layup with 9:29 to play. Northwest Missouri (23-0, 13-0 MIAA) closed the half on a 20-6 run, however, and out-scored LU by 10 in the game's final 20 minutes to hold on for the win.

Terrence Smith and Amariontez Ivory each scored 15 points, with Smith grabbing five rebounds and Ivory dishing two assists. Jonell Burton joined the pair in double figures with 10 points and secured five rebounds while tallying four assists and a block.

L'Kielynn Taylor and Rigmaiden tied for the team-high with seven rebounds apiece, and Taylor scored eight points while Grant Olsson recorded four points and four boards. John Burton also represented Lincoln on the court with three point and an assist.

Lincoln next heads to Kearney, Neb. on Thursday (Feb. 14) to play Nebraska Kearney at 7:30 p.m. CST.