JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The lead changed 16 times with three ties, but in the end, Emporia State beat the Lincoln men's basketball team, 76-69, on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 1).

Derrick Woods led Lincoln with 19 points and eight rebounds, and three other Blue Tigers scored in double figures as LU shot .476 for the contest. The Blue Tigers held the Hornets to .421 shooting overall and .348 from the free throw line. ESU held a slim 37-35 advantage in rebounding, but scored 12 second chance points and 12 on fast breaks. 

With 13:48 remaining, Emporia State held a 52-46 lead, but Destan Williams and Mark Boland made back-to-back jumpers. After Woods grabbed a rebound off a missed three, Boland hit another shot to tie the game at 52. Williams dished six assists and scored 13 points while grabbing two rebounds and notching a pair of steals. Boland, meanwhile, had eight points and two boards on the afternoon.

With 11:20 to play, Lincoln took its first lead of the second half when Chuck Wilson, who had five rebounds on the day, broke the tie with a three-pointer. A long-distance basket by Woods after an ESU bucket gave LU a four-point advantage, and LU maintained the lead entering the final eight minutes. That's when a pair of free throws sparked the Hornets onto an 8-0 run, and Emporia State prevented Lincoln from coming closer to within two on an old-fashioned three-point play by John Gaines, who had 11 points in the ballgame.

Ni'Sean Rigmaiden also finished in double figures, scoring 10 points to go with two steals and a pair of assists. Mekhi Kimble had two rebounds, Josh Wallace provided five points and three boards, and Yaniel Vidal had an assist and a steal. Arash Yaqubi represented LU with a rebound.

Lincoln next plays on Thursday (Jan. 6) when the Blue Tigers travel to Kearney, Neb. to take on Nebraska Kearney at 7:30 p.m. CST.