ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Four members of the Lincoln men's basketball team scored in double figures, but Missouri Western handed the Blue Tigers their first loss of 2020-21 on Thursday evening (Dec. 3). Hot shooting and a strong night on the boards helped MWSU to prevail, 89-73.

Sai Witt came close to a third-straight double-double, finishing with 19 points and nine boards, and Mekhi Kimble scored 15 for Lincoln (2-1, 2-1 MIAA). Quinton Drayton added 18 points and four rebounds, and Cameron Potts was next on the scoring chart with 11.

Missouri Western (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) led by nine at halftime, but a trey by Drayton early in the second half sent LU onto a 15-5 run to tie the game at 51 entering the final 15 minutes. MWSU, which shot .484 for the game, scored four-straight points to break the tie, but Yaniel Vidal hit a three-pointer to bring Lincoln back within one. Vidal finished his night with six points and three rebounds.

A dunk sprung the Griffons onto a 12-2 run, capped off by a pair of treys that put MWSU ahead, 67-56, with 9:40 remaining. Missouri Western, which out-gained the Blue Tigers on the glass, 41-34, maintained a double-digit lead for much of the remaining time as Lincoln fell in its first road game of the season.

Ni'Sean Rigmaiden had two points, a pair of assists and four rebounds for the Blue Tigers, who shot .419 from the floor, but hit on just five of their 13 three-point tries. Jordan Notch closed the scoring with two points and three boards, and DaMani Jarrett recorded a rebound and a steal. Lamont Ballard, Jr. also had a steal to round out the Blue Tigers.

Lincoln will remain on the road on Saturday (Dec. 5), traveling to Maryville, Mo. to play Northwest Missouri at 3:30 p.m. CST.