Complete Game Notes | Home Game Policies
Game #11: No. 3 Northwest Missouri (10-1, 10-1 MIAA) at Lincoln (7-3, 7-3 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021
Time: 7:30 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/

Game #12: Missouri Western (8-2, 8-2 MIAA) at Lincoln
Date: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021
Time: 3:00 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/

THE TIP OFF:  Two big home games await the Lincoln men's basketball team this week as the Blue Tigers try to avenge two losses from December. Up first for Lincoln is the No. 3 team in the country, according to the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II poll, as Northwest Missouri visits Jefferson City on Thursday (Jan. 28) for a 7:30 p.m. CST contest. On Saturday (Jan. 30), Lincoln welcomes Missouri Western to Jason Gym for a 3:00 p.m. CST game. The Blue Tigers have only three losses on the season, but one came on the road to Northwest Missouri (84-54) on Dec. 5, while another was a road loss to Missouri Western (89-73) on Dec. 3. LU is 6-1 at home in 2020-21 and has won five of its past six games.

FAST BREAKS
- Lincoln and Northwest Missouri meet for the 85th time on Thursday, with NWMSU holding a 54-30 lead in the overall series.

- LU's last win over NWMSU came in Jason Gym in 2015, when the Blue Tigers beat the No. 25 Bearcats, 79-74.

- The Blue Tigers are seeking their second win over a ranked opponent this season, as LU beat No. 21 Missouri Southern, 76-68, in Jason Gym on Nov. 28.

- Lincoln and Missouri Western have met 47 times, with MWSU leading the series, 35-12.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Sai Witt is averaging close to a double-double (16.4 ppg., 8.9 rpg.) and Cameron Potts is averaging 10.8 points, 4.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds as Lincoln is 7-3 on the season. Quinton Drayton has scored at least 25 points in three games and averages 18.1 ppg. on the year while Yaniel Vidal averages 10.6 ppg. Mid-season addition Derrick Woods averages 20.0 points and 6.0 rebounds.

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
Rogers State 82, Lincoln 80
Lincoln had the chance to tie the game or take the lead as the final seconds ran off the clock, but the Hillcats prevented LU from taking a shot to hang on for an 82-80 win on Thursday (Jan. 21). LU was led by Quinton Drayton with 28 points and Derrick Woods with 21 points and six rebounds.

Lincoln 91, Northeastern State 76
Cameron Potts scored 15 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and dished 11 assists as Lincoln beat Northeastern State on Saturday (Jan. 23). Potts also had three steals while Quinton Drayton had 25 points and Derrick Woods supplied 19 points and six boards. Yaniel Vidal had 12 points and three steals as LU shot .507 from the field.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS:  Ryan Hawkins is leading the Bearcats with 20.6 and 8.1 rebounds per game, while Trevor Hudgins (19.3 ppg.), Diego Bernard (13.0 ppg.) and Wes Dreamer (10.1 ppg.) are next on the scoring list. Hudgins leads Northwest Missouri in both assists (5.7) and steals (21 total).

NWMSU HEAD COACH BEN McCOLLUM:  In 12 seasons, McCollum has led NWMSU to 280 wins and seven MIAA regular season titles. In 2017 and in 2019, McCollum directed the Bearcats to the NCAA Division II National Championship as well as MIAA regular season and tournament titles. McCollum played at NWMSU and led the Bearcats to the Elite Eight in 2001-02.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS:  Tyrell Carroll, with 18.4 ppg., is one of six MWSU players who are averaging double digit points. Will Eames is averaging a team-high 9.7 rebounds and 13.1 points, and Q Mays is next with 12.3 ppg. Caleb Bennett (11.5 ppg.), Reese Glover (10.3 ppg.) and JaRon Thames (10.2 ppg.) are next on the scoring chart.

MWSU HEAD COACH WILL MARTIN:  The first-year coach of the Griffons is off to an 8-2 start. Martin spent the past two seasons working as an assistant coach with Missouri Western, and before that worked at San Francisco and Martin Methodist.

TRIPLE THREAT:  Cameron Potts became just the third NCAA Division II player, and the first from the MIAA, to record a triple-double when he tallied 15 points, 12 boards and 10 assists in LU's win over Northeastern State. Potts, who is sixth nationally with 24 steals, ranks 19th in DII in assists (47) and 49th in assists per game (4.7).

DRAY DAY:  With three-straight 20-point games, Quinton Drayton is quickly becoming one of the MIAA's top scorers. Drayton averages 18.1 ppg., sixth-most by a league player, and is 31st in the country with 181 total points. Drayton has made 68 field goals, the 19th-most in Division II.

SAI IT TWICE:  With four double-doubles on the season, Sai Witt is currently sixth in NCAA DII. Witt is averaging 8.9 rebounds, the third-most in the MIAA, and 16.4 points per game are ninth in the conference.

PLAYERS 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 MIAA Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Following another double-double vs. Emporia State, Witt once again earned a weekly award, as he was the Black College Sports Network Small School Player of the Week. BCSN later recognized Quinton Drayton with the same honor after averaging 26.5 points vs. Rogers State and Northeastern State.

YANI FOR 3:  Few MIAA players are as hot from beyond the arc as Yaniel Vidal, whose 27 treys are the seventh-most in the conference and the 30th-most in NCAA Division II. He averages 2.7 three-pointers per night, the second-most in the league, and his .458 accuracy rate from long distance is third in the MIAA and 31st in the country.

22 FOR 20:  Derrick Woods, No. 22 on the LU roster, made a huge Blue Tiger debut with an average of 20 points vs. Rogers State and Northeastern State. Against the Hillcats, Woods scored 21 on 9-for-13 shooting. He followed that with 19 points vs. NSU, and is shooting .567 overall and .545 from three-point range.

WELCOME BACK:  After missing 2019-20 with an injury, Ni'Sean Rigmaiden has returned strong in 2020-21. He has started nine games, is averaging 9.1 points and 4.2 boards, and has dished 23 assists while blocking three shots.

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:  Lincoln kicks off a five-game road trip with a visit to Edmond, Okla. to play Central Oklahoma on Tuesday (Feb. 2) at 6:00 p.m. CST.