Complete Game Notes
Game #14: Central Missouri (6-7, 1-3 MIAA) at Lincoln (5-8, 2-2 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 11, 2019
Time: 3:00 p.m. CST
Site: Jason Gym (1,538) in Jefferson City, Mo.
Tickets: Adults - $5.00 | LU Faculty & Staff/Non-LU Students - $3.00 | LU Students & Kids 5 and Under – Free
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers/
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/

THE TIP OFF:  The Blue Tigers, who are 2-1 at home in 2019-20, play the first of three-straight games in Jason Gym on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 11) when the Lincoln men's basketball team hosts Central Missouri for a 3:00 p.m. CST showdown. Lincoln has won its past two at home, beating Missouri Western on Dec. 7 and Culver-Stockton on Dec. 18, and will try to make it three-straight home wins when the Blue Tigers take on a Mules team that is 0-3 away from home in 2019-20. The Blue Tigers are 2-2 in MIAA play after splitting games at Newman and Central Oklahoma last weekend while the Mules are 1-3 in conference play, with the lone win being a home victory over Northwest Missouri, then ranked No. 1 in the country, back on Dec. 7.

FAST BREAKS
- Lincoln has played Central Missouri more than any other opponent, with the two teams meeting for the 95th time on Saturday. UCM leads the all-time series, 59-35.

- The Blue Tigers and the Mules have met twice in each of the past three seasons, and each year, the teams split the season series.

- Lincoln has won each of its last two home games vs. Central Missouri, including a 78-59 win in 2018-19.

- LU has won its first home game of the calendar year in each of the past two seasons.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Three Blue Tigers are averaging at least 10 points per game, led by Jonell Burton, who poured in 40 against Harris-Stowe, with 16.2 per contest. Cameron Potts averages 12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists, and Marcel Burton is next on the scoring chart with 10.4 points. L'Kielynn Taylor leads the Blue Tigers with 7.8 rebounds per night.

HEAD COACH JOHN MOSELEY:  Now in his sixth season as the head coach of the Blue Tigers, Moseley has led LU to four-straight postseason appearances as well as four-consecutive winning seasons. In 2015-16, he became the first coach to take Lincoln to the postseason since 1986-87 and led LU to its first winning campaign since 2001-02. The Blue Tigers have posted double-digit wins in each of the past four seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
Lincoln 74, Newman 72 (OT)
Cameron Potts, who had 17 points, hit two free throws to send the game into overtime before making the game-winning layup as Lincoln won at Newman, 74-72, on Jan. 4. Bansi King added 16 points, Marcel Burton chipped in 13 and Jordan Notch added 12 points while DJ Ward was next on the list with nine points. L'Kielynn Taylor had six points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Central Oklahoma 79, Lincoln 65
The Blue Tigers made 11 treys, with Bansi King, who finished with 24 points, sinking seven of those treys, but Central Oklahoma held off LU on Jan. 6 for a 79-65 win. Cameron Potts scored 17 for the second-straight game while Marcel Burton added 14 points to the Lincoln cause.

SCOUTING THE MULES:  Gaven Pinkley leads Central Missouri in scoring (13.8) and rebounds (5.8) while Kendale Hampton is next in scoring with 9.5 points per game. Daniel Farris averages a team-high 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals, and Matt Wilkinson is tallying 8.9 points per game for a Mule team that averages 68.7 per night.

UCM HEAD COACH DOUG KARLESKINT:  In his sixth season as the head coach of the Mules, Karleskint has directed Central Missouri to more than 90 wins and a trip to the NCAA Division II tournament. Karleskint came to UCM after a four-year career at Arkansas Tech in which he won 89 games and made the NCAA tournament every year.

BLOCK PARTY:  Opposing shooters have been stung by Jonell Burton many times in 2019-20, as his 15 blocks are the seventh-most by any MIAA player. Burton, who ranks 77th in the country in blocks per game, is averaging 1.4 blocks, the sixth-most in the MIAA.

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES:  Jonell Burton, who is leading the Blue Tigers with 16.2 points per game, is currently seventh in the conference in scoring and ninth in total field goals made (70). Burton scored in double figures in each of the season's first five games, including pouring in 40 vs. Harris-Stowe.

ON THE GLASS:  L'Kielynn Taylor has led LU in rebounding for most of the season, pulling down five or more boards in 12 of LU's 13 games with double-digit performances against four teams. Taylor's 7.8 average is the fifth-best in the MIAA while his 102 total rebounds are the third-most by an MIAA player.

HOLD THE BALL:  LU has taken care of the ball, finishing with more turnovers than opponents in just four games. The Blue Tigers, who are 2-2 when turning over the ball more often than their opponent, rank seventh in the MIAA and 87th in the country in fewest turnovers (168).

WORKING OVERTIME:  With a 74-72 win over Newman, Lincoln improved to 1-1 in overtime games in 2019-20. The Blue Tigers, who fell to Harris-Stowe in their other OT game of the year, are 6-5 in overtime contests under current head coach John Moseley.

DOWNTOWN'S CLOSED:  Teams had a difficult time making three's against Lincoln last year, as the Blue Tigers ranked second in the MIAA and 42nd in NCAA Division II in three-point defense (.327). That trend has continued in 2019-20, as LU is currently fifth in the league, allowing its opponents to shoot just .324 beyond the arc.

D-D-D-DEFENSE:  In addition to being tough along the perimeter, LU has been strong all around while on defense, ranking 94th nationally with 71.5 points allowed per game. The Blue Tigers, who are sixth in the MIAA in defensive rebounding (26.1) and ninth in offensive rebounding (9.6), are ninth in the conference with 35.7 boards per night.

FIELD TACTICS:  10 Blue Tigers are posting a field goal percentage of .400 or higher, with L'Kielynn Taylor (.551), leading six Lincoln players making at least 50-percent of their shot attempts. As a team, LU is shooting .438 from the field while holding its opponents to .429 shooting, with that field goal defense ranking 10th in the conference and 103rd in the country.

HE GIVETH AND HE TAKETH:  Cameron Potts leads LU in both assists and steals, and is among the MIAA leaders in both categories as well. Potts is fourth in the league with 5.3 assists per night, the 39th-most in the country, and has dropped at least six dimes in seven games in 2019-20. Potts also averages 2.0 steals, the fourth-most in the MIAA.

REJECTIONS:  Lincoln has blocked 38 shots in 2019-20, with the 2.9 rejections per game rating 10th in the MIAA. Jonell Burton, a member of the MIAA All-Defensive team in 2018-19, leads the Blue Tigers with 15 rejections while Jordan Notch is next with seven blocks.

NOTCHING SOME HELP:  Jordan Notch, who started the first seven games of the year, has stepped up his play the last nine contests, with a 12 point and nine rebound game against Maryville. Notch poured in 11 points in the win over Missouri Western and, over the past nine games, is shooting 27-49 (.551) from the field.

GEAR UP FOR THE GAME:  Lincoln fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.

NEXT UP:  The Blue Tigers remain at home to host Missouri Southern on Thursday (Jan. 16) at 7:30 p.m. CST.