JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Northwest Missouri hit a layup off an offensive rebound with exactly one second to play to hand the Lincoln men's basketball team a 76-74 loss on Thursday night (Jan. 28).

The Blue Tigers played toe-to-toe with the Bearcats, ranked No. 3 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II poll, for the entire evening, including taking a 34-32 lead into halftime after a pair of free throws by Sai Witt. They were a part of Witt's fifth double-double of the season, as he finished with a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. He also had a block and dished two assists.

After a three-pointer from Derrick Woods tied the game at 51 with 12:18 remaining, Northwest Missouri (11-1, 11-1 MIAA) went on a 10-0 run, and held a 65-55 lead with 7:15 to play. Quinton Drayton hit a quick jumper to push Lincoln (7-4, 7-4 MIAA) onto a run of its own, as Witt converted an old-fashioned three-point play before another bucket by Drayton made it a 67-64 affair. Drayton finished with 15 points while Woods had 12 to go with three boards, a steal and a block.

With just over two minutes remaining, Drayton hit a triple to pull Lincoln to within 70-69 of the Bearcats. NWMSU answered with a pair of free throws, but Drayton hit another jumper, then later gave LU back the lead with two free throws that put the Blue Tigers on top, 73-72. Cameron Potts notched a steal on the defensive end, and Charles Wilson hit a basket at the line with 24 ticks left on the clock to make it a two-point Blue Tiger advantage. 

Northwest Missouri tied the game up for the seventh and final time on two more free throws, giving Lincoln a shot at taking the lead with 13 seconds to play. LU's shot ricocheted off the rim, however, and the Bearcats drove down for a game-winning attempt of their own. The first shot missed the basket, but the second was good with one second to play, and NWMSU escaped with the two-point victory.

Potts scored 10 points and had four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Wilson added nine points and Yaniel Vidal closed the scoring with six points, four boards, three steals and a pair of assists. Lamont Ballard, Jr. pulled down two rebounds, and Jordan Notch blocked a shot.

The Blue Tigers will be back in Jason Gym on Saturday (Jan. 30) to host Missouri Western at 3:00 p.m. CST.