Complete Game Notes
Game #7: Missouri Western (6-4, 2-0 MIAA) at Lincoln (1-5, 0-1 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021
Time: 7:30 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball
Live Video: https://themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers/

Game #8: Northwest Missouri (8-1, 2-0 MIAA) at Lincoln
Date: Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021
Time: 3:00 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball
Live Video: https://themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers/

THE TIP OFF:  Back-to-back home games await Lincoln's men's basketball team this week, as the Blue Tigers host two of the MIAA's top programs. On Thursday (Dec. 9), Lincoln hosts Missouri Western at 7:30 p.m. CST. This is a rematch of last year's MIAA tournament first round match-up, which the Griffons won in overtime, 84-76. On Saturday (Dec. 11), the Blue Tigers host the defending NCAA Division II champions, Northwest Missouri, at 3:00 p.m. CST. Both teams are undefeated in MIAA play, as Missouri Western is 6-4 overall and 2-0 in the league. The Bearcats, meanwhile, are 8-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

FAST BREAKS
- Lincoln and Missouri Western have met 49 times, with MWSU leading the series, 36-13

- LU and MWSU split the season series last year, with each team winning on its home court. The teams met one more time in the postseason, with the Griffons winning in overtime in the first round of the MIAA tournament.

- Lincoln and Northwest Missouri meet for the 86th time on Saturday, with NWMSU holding a 55-30 lead in the overall series.

- The Blue Tigers are seeking their first win against the Bearcats since beating #25 NWMSU, 79-74, in Jefferson City on Dec. 18, 2015.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Four Blue Tigers are averaging at least nine points per game, led by Destan Williams, who averages 10.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals. Ni'Sean Rigmaiden is averaging 9.8 points, 3.8 boards and 2.8 assists, and Chuck Wilson scores 9.5 points per game. Derrick Woods leads LU with 4.7 rebounds per game and averages 9.3 points, and Aaron Burt is shooting .625 from the floor.

HEAD COACH ED WILSON:  Last spring, Ed Wilson was elevated to the position of interim head coach after serving as Lincoln's assistant coach the previous seven seasons. In that span, Wilson helped lead Lincoln to six postseason berths, including a trip to the semifinals of the 2019 MIAA Championship. Wilson has coached 16 Blue Tigers to some form of All-MIAA honor.

LAST TIME OUT
Lincoln 101, Central Christian 55
The Blue Tigers shot .500 from the field and made 11 three-pointers en route to their first victory of the year, as Lincoln beat Central Christian, 101-55, in Jefferson City on Nov. 30. Five Blue Tigers scored in double figures, led by Chuck Wilson with 18 points and nine assists. Destan Williams had 15 points and six boards, Ni'Sean Rigmaiden added 16 points and seven assists, and Derrick Woods finished with 10 points and seven boards. Alafia Oluwasogo also scored 10 points, and Mark Boland had nine points and six rebounds, and John Gaines chipped in eight points.

Central Missouri 72, Lincoln 59
The Blue Tigers out-rebounded the Mules, 43-36, but Central Missouri forced Lincoln to commit 20 turnovers as UCM won in Warrensburg, 72-59, on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 5). Derrick Woods scored a game-high 14 points and collected seven boards while Chuck Wilson had eight rebounds to go with three points. Destan Williams supplied 10 points while Josh Wallace had seven points and seven rebounds.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS:  Will Eames comes close to averaging a double-double with 11.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per night. JaQuaylon Mays leads the team with 21.9 points per game and 4.5 assists, and Reese Glover also averages 11.7 points while Caleb Bennett is averaging 10.9.

MWSU HEAD COACH WILL MARTIN:  The second-year coach of the Griffons has MWSU off to a 6-4 start in 2021-22. Martin spent two years working as an assistant coach with Missouri Western, and before that worked at San Francisco and Martin Methodist.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS:  Trevor Hudgins is one of the MIAA's best scorers, averaging 25.0 points while leading Northwest Missouri with 4.2 assists per contest. Wes Dreamer is averaging 15.7 points while Diego Bernard, who leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game, averages 12.4 points.

NWMSU HEAD COACH BEN McCOLLUM:  In 13 seasons, McCollum has led NWMSU to over 300 wins and eight MIAA regular season titles. In 2017, 2019 and 2021, McCollum directed the Bearcats to the NCAA Division II National Championship. McCollum played at NWMSU and led the Bearcats to the Elite Eight in 2001-02.

CONFERENCE TIME:  For the rest of the season, Lincoln will face a schedule consisting only of MIAA opponents. On Thursday night, Lincoln plays its first home MIAA game of 2021-22. The Blue Tigers have won their first league home game in two of the past three seasons, including beating Central Missouri in last year's opener.

NO FOUL, NO HARM:  Lincoln has only been called for 104 fouls this season, the fifth-fewest by any MIAA program. Seven Blue Tigers have been called for fouls on just six or fewer occasions, as Lincoln ranks 52nd in NCAA Division II in fouls. Opponents have attempted just 110 free throws, converting 81.

DESTANY:  Destan Williams has done a bit of everything for the Blue Tigers, including leading the team in scoring with 10.0 points per game. Williams averages 4.0 assists, the eighth-most by any MIAA player, and his also seventh in the league with 1.8 steals per contest. Williams averages 3.7 rebounds, with his 19 defensive boards rating second among the Blue Tigers.

FROM DOWNTOWN:  Lincoln is shooting .376 from three-point range this season, the fourth-best percentage in the MIAA and the 65th-best in NCAA Division II. Chuck Wilson, Ni'Sean Rigmaiden and Mark Boland have each made 11 treys on the year, with Rigmaiden shooting at a .538 clip and Boland firing at a .550 rate. The Blue Tigers have made 53 three-pointers on the season, while opponents have made just 37.

LU IN THE MIAA:  The Blue Tigers rank highly in the league in several statistics, including rating second in the MIAA with 10.7 offensive rebounds per game. Lincoln also is fourth in both three-point percentage and turnovers forced (14.7 per game), and LU is sixth in both three-point defense (.325) and assists per game (13.8).

GET YOUR TICKETS:  Lincoln is partnering with Hometown Ticketing once again to sell tickets to all of LU's basketball games online in 2021-22. For more information, visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/Tickets.

JOIN THE CLUB:  The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships, improving facilities and purchasing equipment. To join the BTAC, or to learn more, 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 12 LU 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 travels to Pittsburg, Kan. on Wednesday (Dec. 15) to take on Pittsburg State at 7:30 p.m. CST.