JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Blue Tigers led the No. 10 team in the nation in the second half, but Missouri Southern pulled away late for a 77-63 win over the Lincoln men's basketball team on Thursday (Jan. 16).

The Lions, ranked No. 10 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II poll this week, shot .500 from the floor and were a perfect 12-for-12 at the free throw line. The Blue Tigers forced MSSU into 21 turnovers, but the Lions finished with a 37-31 advantage in rebounding. Both teams scored 18 points off of offensive rebounds, with Lincoln also scoring 18 off turnovers.

Missouri Southern (14-2, 7-0 MIAA) opened the game on a 9-0 run, but Lincoln (6-9, 3-3 MIAA) rallied to tie the game at 22 on a tip-in by Cameron Potts with 7:28 left in the half. After the Lions went ahead by five later in the period, Lincoln once again tied it, with Marcus Cohen's jumper making it 32-all with 3:48 until halftime.

Lincoln ended up entering halftime down 42-38 as the Lions broke a 38-38 tie by hitting a pair of free throws as well as a wild layup before time expired. In the second half, however, Joe Davis, who led LU with 14 points and seven rebounds while also tallying three steals, drained a trey that put the Blue Tigers on top, 49-47, with 14:12 left in regulation.

MSSU answered with a quick jumper, and the game would be tied twice more before the Lions used a 10-0 run to take the lead for good. Cohen ended the night with 10 points, three assists and three rebounds, while Potts grabbed four boards and had two steals to go with an assist and eight points.

Marcel Burton also finished in double figures, scoring 12 points while tallying three rebounds, a pair of assists and a block. L'Kielynn Taylor also blocked a shot and led Lincoln with four steals while grabbing three rebounds and making a free throw. Jonell Burton, meanwhile, had nine points and six boards on the evening.

Lamont Ballard, Jr. made a trey, Bansi King contributed four points and two assists, and Jordan Notch added two points, a steal and an assist to round out the Blue Tigers.

Lincoln will next host Pittsburg State on Saturday (Jan. 18), with tip-off scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CST.