WARRENSBURG, Mo. - The Lincoln men's basketball team got off to a slow start and had a second-half rally fall short as the Blue Tigers dropped an 81-62 decision to Central Missouri on Saturday (Feb. 27).

The game was decided beyond the arc, as the Mules made 11 treys while the Blue Tigers connected on just five of their attempts. UCM also took advantage of 20 LU turnovers, and closed the first half on an 11-4 run to take a 36-24 advantage.

Back-to-back jumpers by Quinton Drayton to start the second half allowed Lincoln to cut the deficit down to eight, but Central Missouri answered with a three that gave the Mules a double-digit lead they would sustain for the rest of the game. The Blue Tigers fought back, eventually scoring 38 points over the final 20 minutes, but UCM held off LU for the win in the regular season finale for both teams.

Drayton finished with 10 points and six rebounds, and Sai Witt led the Blue Tigers with 18 points while grabbing six boards, dishing a pair of assists and blocking a shot. Yaniel Vidal added 16 points and five rebounds, and Cameron Potts totaled nine points, six boards, four assists and two steals.

Mekhi Kimble provided four points and two rebounds, and Derrick Woods chipped in two points while Lamont Ballard, Jr. closed the scoring with an old-fashioned three-point play. Charles Wilson tallied a rebound and a steal, and Jordan Notched finished with three boards and an assist.

Lincoln ends the regular season with a 12-10 record and will now wait to see where and who it will play in the quarterfinals of the 2021 MIAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, Presented by Citizens Banks & Trust, on Wednesday evening (March 3).