JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A potential game-tying shot just missed the mark as the final seconds ticked off the clock, and Missouri Western edged the Lincoln men's basketball team, 78-76, on Thursday night (Dec. 9).

The Griffons led by eight with just over two minutes to play, but Tre'Vion Crawford, making his debut as a Blue Tiger, hit a a jumper in the paint to pull LU within 78-72. Chris Baldwin collected a rebound on MWSU's next shot attempt, then drained a three from the top of the key to cut the deficit down to three. Crawford scored 13 points while Baldwin posted a double-double, finishing with 11 points, 16 rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist.

As the clock slipped under 30 seconds to play, Crawford was sent to the line for a pair of free throw attempts. He missed the first, but made the second, and Lincoln (1-6, 0-2 MIAA) quickly fouled Missouri Western (7-4, 3-0 MIAA). The Griffons went to the line for a one-and-one, but the first attempt bounced off the front of the rim, and Josh Wallace pulled down the rebound to set Lincoln up for one final shot. As the final seconds ticked away, Ni'Sean Rigmaiden attempted a jump outside of the paint to try and force overtime, but the ball went off the rim and the Griffons escaped with the win.

The game started on a frenetic pace, with the teams trading the lead five times through the opening five minutes. A 15-0 run gave Missouri Western an early 20-6 advantage, but the Blue Tigers fought back, with Rigmaiden pulling LU to within 36-31 on a three-pointer with 3:30 until halftime. Rigmaiden scored 13 points on the evening and dished four assists while tallying two rebounds, a block and a steal. Wallace had eight points and six rebounds.

The Griffons eventually took an eight-point lead into the break, but Lincoln began the second half on an 8-2 run, with Chuck Wilson and Crawford hitting shots from downtown. The Griffons would push their lead to no greater than six points before Wilson hit another trey and Destan Williams made a layup to pull LU to within one point. After a jumper by the Griffons, Derrick Woods drained a three to tie the game at 59. Woods had nine points and four rebounds in the ballgame, and Williams dished four assists. Wilson, meanwhile, scored a team-high 16 points and dished four assists while collecting nine boards.

Missouri Western answered with another three, and eventually took a 71-61 advantage on a fastbreak dunk with 6:57 remaining. MWSU shot .403 from the floor and .400 from long distance while the Blue Tigers shot .460 for the game, but .393 from three-point land. Lincoln out-rebounded the Griffons, 44-36, but Missouri Western forced LU into 12 turnovers while giving the ball away only four times. 

Mekhi Kimble had an assist and a rebound, and Alafia Oluwasogo rounded out LU with four points.

Lincoln will remain at home on Saturday (Dec. 11) to play Northwest Missouri at 3:00 p.m. CST.