JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Cameron Potts hit two free throws five seconds remaining and the Lincoln men's basketball team prevented Pittsburg State from attempting a potential game-winning shot as the Blue Tigers pulled out an 85-84 win on Saturday (Jan. 18).

Five Blue Tigers scored in double figures, led by Joe Davis with 20 points and five rebounds. Potts had 12 points and a team-high nine assists to go with five boards and two steals. Lamont Ballard, Jr. added 14 points and three rebounds while Jonell Burton was next with 11 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks. Jordan Notch also reached double digits, tallying 10 points, two boards, a steal and an assist.

After Lincoln (7-9, 4-3 MIAA) led for most of the first half, including holding a 41-36 advantage at the break, Pittsburg State (7-10, 3-5 MIAA) rallied to take a 57-56 lead with 12:05 to play. The game turned into a back-and-forth affair afterwards, with the lead changing 14 times and the scored being tied on seven occasions. The Blue Tigers ended up entering the final two minutes clinging to an 83-82 lead.

Good defense by both teams resulted in that one-point lead holding until there were 15.6 seconds to play, as a foul called on Lincoln sent Pittsburg State to the line. After shooting .583 at the charity stripe in the first half, the Gorillas went 10-for-11 in the second, including making both of those shots to briefly regain the lead. Lincoln, meanwhile, made just 12 baskets at the line in the game, but Potts hit two shots when it mattered to give LU one final lead.

The Blue Tigers finished with a 33-32 edge in rebounding and held a slim 13-14 advantage in turnovers. For the game, Lincoln shot .557 from the floor, including .577 in the second half as Lincoln improved to 4-2 at home in 2019-20. The Gorillas drained nine treys in the game, including six during their second-half comeback, but the Blue Tigers scored 52 points in the paint and received 53 points from their bench players.

One of those reserves, Alafia Oluwasogo, scored seven points and grabbed two rebounds while Marcus Cohen supplied two points and a pair of steals. Marcel Burton closed the scoring with five points and two assists, and Bansi King rounded out LU's participation with an assist.

Lincoln will head to Oklahoma for its next two games, beginning with a trip to Tahlequah on Thursday night (Jan. 23) to play Northeastern State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.