Complete Game Notes
Game #25: Lincoln (10-14, 7-8 MIAA) at Central Missouri (9-15, 4-11 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2020
Time: 7:30 p.m. CST
Site: UCM Multipurpose Building (8,500) in Warrensburg, Mo.
Tickets: Available at Site
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/
Live Stats: https://ucmathletics.com/sidearmstats/mbball/

THE TIP OFF:  It's back on the road for the Lincoln men's basketball team, which finishes the regular season with four-straight contests away from home. That begins on Tuesday night (Feb. 18), as the Blue Tigers travel to Warrensburg, Mo. to play Central Missouri at 7:30 p.m. CST. The last time these teams met it was an exciting one, with the game stretching into overtime before Lincoln prevailed with an 88-84 win in Jason Gym back on Jan. 11. Lincoln is coming off another overtime win, beating Fort Hays State at home,74-71, on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 15). The Blue Tigers have won two-straight, as LU also won at home against Nebraska Kearney, 64-61, on Thursday (Feb. 13). Central Missouri, meanwhile, has lost four-straight games.

FAST BREAKS
- Lincoln has played Central Missouri more than any other opponent, with the two teams meeting for the 96th time on Tuesday. UCM leads the all-time series, 59-36.

- 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 both of its last two games against the Mules, with both wins coming in Jefferson City.

- LU is seeking its first road win over the Mules since winning 70-63 in Warrensburg in 2016-17.

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 15.1 per contest. Cameron Potts averages 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists, and Marcel Burton is next on the scoring chart with 10.7 points. L'Kielynn Taylor leads the Blue Tigers with 8.0 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 now posted double-digit wins in each of the past five seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
Lincoln 64, Nebraska Kearney 61
After giving up five baskets from beyond the arc in the first half, Lincoln allowed just three in the second, with one coming as the final seconds wound down to a 64-61 Blue Tigers win against Nebraska Kearney on Thursday (Feb. 13). Jonell Burton scored 17 points and Jordan Notch added 14 while L'Kielynn Taylor had 10 rebounds.

Lincoln 74, Fort Hays State 71 (OT)
Lincoln's seniors combined to score 53 points as LU celebrated Senior Day with a 74-71 overtime win against Fort Hays State on Saturday (Feb. 15). Jonell Burton led LU with 21 points, Marcel Burton scored 16 and L'Kielynn Taylor added 13 while DJ Ward made a three and dished an assist. Cameron Potts provided 12 points and two steals.

SCOUTING THE MULES:  Gaven Pinkley leads Central Missouri in scoring (13.7) and rebounds (5.5) while Kendale Hampton is next in scoring with 10.5 points per game. Daniel Farris averages a team-high 3.4 assists, and Matt Wilkinson is tallying 8.0 points per game for a Mule team that averages 66.3 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.

WORKING OVERTIME:  With a 74-71 win over Fort Hays State, Lincoln improved to 3-1 in games that have gone into overtime in 2019-20. The Blue Tigers, who beat Newman on the road, defeated Central Missouri at home and fell to Harris-Stowe at a neutral site in their other OT games of the year, are 8-5 in overtime contests under head coach John Moseley.

STARTING RIGHT:  The Blue Tigers have used 15 different starting lineups in 2019-20, with no set of five players starting more than four contests together. The only constant has been L'Kielynn Taylor, as the senior has started all 24 games this year. He has made two more starts than Marcel Burton, who has started 21 games.

CHIEF THIEF:  Cameron Potts has been one of the MIAA's best at taking away the ball, as his 38 steals lead the Blue Tigers and rank fifth in the conference. Potts is averaging 1.6 steals per game, are also the fifth-most in the MIAA.

GO OLUWASOGO:  Alafia Oluwasogo has given LU a spark, especially during a nine-game stretch in which he scored at least six points each night. Oluwasogo is averaging 7.1 points for the season.

SATURDAY, WHAT A DAY:  The seventh day of the week has been a good one for Lincoln, which is 7-3 this season in games played on Saturday. The Blue Tigers are 6-2 against MIAA opponents on Saturday, and are 5-0 on that day of the week in home games. Two of Lincoln's other wins on the year have come on Wednesdays, while the other was on a Thursday evening.

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES:  Jonell Burton, who leads the Blue Tigers with 15.1 points per game, is currently ninth in the MIAA in scoring and 11th in total field goals made (123). Burton scored in double figures in each of the first five games of the season and has tallied at least 10 points in 18 of Lincoln's 24 contests.

ON THE GLASS:  L'Kielynn Taylor has pulled down five or more boards in 20 of LU's 24 games with double-digit performances vs. eight teams. His 8.0 average is the third-best in the MIAA and his 193 total rebounds are also third in the MIAA. Taylor additionally ranks 79th in Division II in rebounds per game.

HOLD THE BALL:  LU has done a good job of taking care of the ball, finishing with more turnovers than opponents in just nine games, with Lincoln possessing a 4-5 record in those contests. The Blue Tigers rank ninth in the MIAA and 122nd in the country in fewest turnovers (316) while LU's +0.2 turnover margin ranks ninth in the league.

FIELD TACTICS:  Seven Lincoln players are posting a field goal percentage of .400 or higher, with L'Kielynn Taylor (.548), leading four LU players making at least 50-percent of their shot attempts. As a team, LU is shooting .438 from the field and is 9-1 when finishing with a better field goal pct. than its opponents. Jonell Burton individually ranks 14th in the MIAA with a .442 field goal percentage.

THE GIVER:  Cameron Potts leads Lincoln with 98 assists on the year, and is one of the MIAA's leaders in that category as well. Potts is fifth in the league in assists per game (4.1) and fifth in total assists, and his 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio is ninth in the league. In assists per game, Potts ranks 106th in NCAA Division II.

REJECTIONS:  Lincoln has blocked 62 shots in 2019-20, with the 2.6 rejections per game rating ninth in the MIAA. Jonell Burton, a member of the MIAA All-Defensive team in 2018-19, leads the Blue Tigers with 24 rejections and ranks eighth in the conference in total blocks.

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 head to Topeka, Kan. for a rematch with Washburn next Saturday (Feb. 22) at 3:00 p.m. CST.