Complete Game Notes
Game #6: Lincoln (3-2, 3-2 MIAA) at Emporia State (3-0, 3-0 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. CST
Site: Emporia, Kan.
Live Stats: https://esuhornets.com/sidearmstats/mbball
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/

Game #7: Lincoln at No. 17 Washburn (5-0, 5-0 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020
Time: 2:00 p.m. CST
Site: Topeka, Kan.
Live Stats: https://wusports.com/sidearmstats/mbball
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/

THE TIP OFF:  Two more MIAA opponents await the Blue Tigers before the holiday break, as the Lincoln men's basketball team plays two road games this week. Up first is Emporia State, as LU travels to Emporia, Kan. on Thursday (Dec. 17) to take on the Hornets in a 7:00 p.m. CST contest. On Saturday (Dec. 19), the Blue Tigers head to Topeka, Kan. for a 2:00 p.m. CST game against Washburn. Both opponents will provide staunch tests for Lincoln, as Washburn is ranked No. 17 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II poll, while Emporia State is receiving votes. The Blue Tigers are 3-2 after defeating Pittsburg State, 76-55, last Thursday (Dec. 10) in Jefferson City.

FAST BREAKS
- Thursday marks the 30th meeting between Lincoln and Emporia State, with the Hornets leading the series, 18-11.

- The Blue Tigers beat Emporia State in Jefferson City, 85-70, in the most recent meeting on Feb. 1, 2020, and have won six of their last seven games vs. the Hornets.

- On Saturday, Washburn and Lincoln will square off for the 36th time, with the Ichabods leading the series, 31-4.

- Washburn has won three-straight against Lincoln, with the last LU victory being a 75-73 decision in Topeka, Kan. during the 2018-19 season.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Sai Witt is averaging close to a double-double (16.2 ppg., 9.0 rpg.) and Cameron Potts is averaging 11.0 points, 3.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds as Lincoln is 3-2 early in the season. Both Quinton Drayton (14.2) and Yaniel Vidal (10.2) also average double-digit points, while Ni'Sean Rigmaiden is averaging 8.4 points, 4.6 boards and 2.0 assists.

HEAD COACH JOHN MOSELEY:  Now in his seventh season as the head coach of the Blue Tigers, Moseley has led Lincoln to five-straight postseason appearances, and guided the team to four-consecutive winning seasons between 2015-16 and 2018-19. 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 the 2001-02 season.

LAST TIME OUT:  Four Lincoln players scored in double figures, led by 16 from Quinton Drayton, as the Blue Tigers rolled to a 76-55 home win vs. Pittsburg State on Thursday (Dec. 10). Sai Witt scored 11 and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Ni'Sean Rigmaiden added 14 points and four boards while Cameron Potts finished with 15 points and six steals.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS:  Jumah'Ri Turner (16.7 ppg.) and Austin Downing (16.0 ppg.) are leading Emporia State in scoring as ESU averages 71.0 points per night while allowing 63.0. Both Brenden Van Dyke and Dallas Bailey each lead the team with 5.7 rebounds per game, and Van Dyke has five steals while Bailey leads ESU with 11 assists.

ESU HEAD COACH CRAIG DOTY:  A three-time national champion head coach, Doty is now in his third season leading the Hornets. Doty led Graceland to the 2018 NAIA Division I national title, and won championships at Rock Valley in 2014 and 2016. During his first season at Emporia State, Doty helped the Hornets double their win total and achieve a victory in the MIAA tourney.

SCOUTING THE ICHABODS:  Washburn is out-scoring opponents by an average of 83.0-69.2 points per game, with Tyler Geiman leading the team with 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 7.0 assists per night. Jalen Lewis averages 13.2 points, followed by Drew Maschoff (12.5 ppg.) and Jonny Clausing (10.6 ppg.). As a team, Washburn is shooting .500 from the floor and .432 from three-point range.

WU HEAD COACH BRETT BALLARD:  In his fourth season as the head coach of the Ichabods, Ballard has led to Washburn to 67 victories after a pair of 20-win seasons to begin his tenure. He spent the previous four seasons at the Division I level, with stints at Wake Forest and Tulsa, and he was the head coach at Baker from 2010-12.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Sai Witt led Lincoln with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the win over No. 21 Missouri Southern, and was rewarded for his efforts by being named the second MIAA Men's Basketball Player of the Week for 2020-21. Witt, has posted a double-double in all three of Lincoln's wins, is averaging 16.2 points, the ninth-most in the MIAA, and 9.0 rebounds, which is the fourth-most in the conference.

TOP-25 WINS:  With the victory over Missouri Southern, which was ranked No. 21 in the NABC Division II poll heading into the week, the Blue Tigers earned their first win over a Top-25 team since Jan. 5 2019. The opponent in that game was also Missouri Southern, which was then ranked No. 20 nationally. Under coach John Moseley, the Blue Tigers have three Top-25 wins, all at home, with the third being a 79-74 victory over No. 25 Northwest Missouri on Dec. 18, 2015.

WELCOME BACK:  After missing last season with a preseason injury, Ni'Sean Rigmaiden is back in 2020-21, and has already given LU an edge. Rigmaiden is averaging 8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds, and has 10 assists. He has also been anaccurate shooter, shooting .600 beyond the arc.

ALL-AROUND ASSET:  Cameron Potts has given Lincoln a boost all over the court, including in steals, as he ranks seventh in Division II with 10 total takeaways. Potts, who averages 11.0 points and 3.0 rebounds, also averages 3.2 assists, the 10th-most in the MIAA.

Q RATING:  Quinton Drayton has started every game and given the Blue Tigers a spark offensively, highlighted by 16-point performances against both Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. Drayton also scored 18 in the road loss to Missouri Western, and averages 14.2 points per night, the 16th-best average in the MIAA.

TOP TEN TIGERS:  Lincoln ranks fourth in Division II with 40 total steals, is 10th nationally in total rebounds (166) and eighth in the country in free throws made (74). Sai Witt's three double-doubles lead the nation, and Yaniel Vidal is ninth in DII in three-pointers made (13).

GOING DIGITAL:  Lincoln is partnering with Hometown Ticketing to sell all tickets to LU basketball games online in 2020-21. There will be no on-site ticket sales, as fans will either need to pull up their ticket on their phone or print them off in advance to be scanned at the gate. Due to MIAA regulations, tickets to Blue Tiger games will be sold on a limited basis, and members of the Blue Tiger Athletics Club will be given priority. For more information, visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/Tickets.

JOIN THE CLUB:  Members who joined the Blue Tiger Athletics Club at the Coaches level of above will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets in 2020-21. Members at the Blue Tiger level will have the next chance. To join the BTAC, or to learn more about the club, please visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.

WATCH LIVE:  Fans who are unable to attend a game in person will still be able to cheer on the Blue Tigers to victory via The MIAA Network. All 11 Lincoln home games will be broadcast through a new multi-camera system and can be seen at www.TheMIAANetwork.com/LUBlueTigers.

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:  Following the holiday break, Lincoln returns to Jason Gym to host Nebraska Kearney on Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. CST.