JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Sai Witt scored a game-high 28 points and three other Blue Tigers finished in double digits as the Lincoln men's basketball team cruised to a 95-74 win over Missouri Western on Saturday (Jan. 30). The Griffons entered the game ranked No. 23 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II poll, giving Lincoln its second win over ranked opponent this season, as LU beat #21 Missouri Southern, 76-68, on Nov. 28.

Witt also grabbed eight rebounds, dished two assists, blocked a shot and tallied a steal while shooting 11-for-16 from the field. Derrick Woods added 21 points and six boards, while Lamont Ballard, Jr. came off the bench to provide 17 points, two rebounds and an assist. Quinton Drayton also finished in double figures, contributing 11 points and three boards.

Lincoln (8-4,  8-4 MIAA) shot .625 from the field and .444 from long range in a first half that resulted in a 51-34 lead for the Blue Tigers entering the break. The Blue Tigers also shot the ball well in the second half, scoring 44 points while shooting .556 from the field, giving LU a .593 percentage for the game. The Blue Tigers capitalized on 16 turnovers by Missouri Western (8-4, 8-4 MIAA) by scoring 27 points, and LU finished with a 40-27 advantage on the glass. Lincoln had seven steals and six blocks in the win.

Jordan Notch provided seven points, seven rebounds, two assists and three blocks to the winning effort, and Cameron Potts led Lincoln with 11 assists while matching Witt with eight rebounds. Potts also scored four points, blocked a shot and had two steals. 

Charles Wilson also scored four points, and grabbed three rebounds while registering a team-high three steals. Yaniel Vidal closed the scoring with three points, and Arash Yaqubi had a rebound.

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