JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The seniors combined for 53 points as the Lincoln men's basketball team rallied from an 11-point second half deficit to beat Fort Hays State in overtime, 74-71, in LU's final home game of the season on Saturday (Feb. 15).

It was Senior Day for the Blue Tigers, and it was fittingly the LU seniors that keyed the comeback during the second half. Jonell Burton led Lincoln with 21 points, Marcel Burton chipped in 16 and L'Kielynn Taylor added 13 as the Blue Tigers improved to 3-1 in overtime games and finished their home slate with a 7-2 record inside Jason Gym.

Fort Hays State (12-12, 5-10 MIAA) entered the game on a five-game winning streak and held a 44-33 lead with 14:58 remaining, but a trey by Jordan Notch began the comeback bid for Lincoln (10-14, 7-8 MIAA). Notch finished with five points, two boards and a pair of assists, and helped Lincoln shoot .500 both overall and from long distance. FHSU shot .410 overall, but was held by Lincoln to just five treys in 21 attempts (.238).

A three-pointer from Jonell Burton, who additionally provided seven rebounds and four assists, pulled the Blue Tigers to within 50-46 and Notch tied the game on a jumper, but Fort Hays State answered with four quick points to regain the lead. Marcel Burton gave Lincoln its first lead of the game moments later, hitting a tip-in before sinking a trey to put LU ahead, 53-52, with 6:53 left in regulation.

Taylor dished two assists and grabbed six rebounds in the win and gave LU a three-point cushion with a jumper, but FHSU made a rare three-pointer to knot the game up at 55. Fort Hays State would later regain the lead on another trey, but a Jonell Burton dunk and a free throw with 1:14 remaining made it a 62-62 affair.

Jonell Burton hit a layup, Fort Hays State answered with a pair of free throws, and that ended up closing the scoring in regulation. Marcel Burton, who ended the day with a team-high eight rebounds, had a look at a three in the final seconds, but the ball clanked off the rim and FHSU grabbed the rebound to force five more minutes of play.

Lincoln scored the first four points of overtime, but a pair of free throws and a layup allowed Fort Hays State to tie the game at 68 with 2:22 on the clock. A fast break layup from Jonell Burton put LU back on top, and the Blue Tigers never looked back, holding FHSU to just three points the rest of the way.

DJ Ward rounded out a fantastic performance by Lincoln's seniors with three points and an assist, and Cameron Potts came off the bench to provide 12 points, four boards and two steals. Alafia Oluwasogo contributed three points and two rebounds to the winning cause, and Lamont Ballard, Jr. made a free throw to close the scoring. Ballard also grabbed three rebounds and notched an assist. Marcus Cohen, meanwhile, tallied three boards and two two assists on the afternoon.

Lincoln will finish the regular season on the road, starting on Tuesday (Feb. 18) with a trip to Warrensburg, Mo. to take on Central Missouri. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.