Complete Game Notes
Game #12: No. 22 Central Oklahoma (13-2, 8-1 MIAA) at Lincoln (1-10, 0-6 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. CST
Site: Jason Gym (1,538) in Jefferson City, Mo.
Tickets: https://lubluetigers.com/tickets
Adults - $10.00| LU Faculty & Staff/Non-LU Students - $8.00 | LU Students & Kids 5 and Under - Free
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball

THE TIP OFF:  After having three games postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, the Lincoln men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday (Jan. 15) for a 3:00 p.m. CST game against Central Oklahoma. Lincoln was originally scheduled to play Newman on Thursday (Jan. 13) in Jason Gym, but that game has been postponed, and a make-up date has yet to be announced. The Blue Tigers will take the court for the first time sine the start of the new year, when Lincoln dropped a 76-79 decision to Emporia State at home on Jan. 1. Central Oklahoma enters the week ranked No. 22 in the country according to the National Association of Basketball Coaches' DII poll, and the Bronchos are 13-2 heading into a matchup with Central Missouri on Thursday evening.

FAST BREAKS
- Saturday marks the 13th meeting between Lincoln and Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos lead the all-time series, 8-4.

- UCO won the last meeting between the teams, 87-76, in Edmond, Okla. on Feb. 2, 2021.

- Lincoln's last victory over the Bronchos came in the 2020 MIAA Men's Basketball Championship, as LU beat UCO in the opening round, 78-69.

- The last meeting between the teams in Jefferson City was on Jan. 26, 2019, with LU winning, 78-65.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Both Chuck Wilson and Derrick Woods average 9.5 points per game, and Tre'vion Crawford leads LU with 10.0 ppg. Wilson leads the team with 4.6 rebounds per night, followed closely by Woods with 4.5, and Destan Williams leads Lincoln with 43 assists and 15 steals. Ni'Sean Rigmaiden is averaging 9.1 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds, while Josh Wallace averages 6.3 points and 3.8 boards.

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
Pittsburg State 86, Lincoln 75
The Blue Tigers led by three at halftime, but the Gorillas scored 52 points in the second half as Pittsburg State rallied for an 86-75 win on Dec. 16. Destan Williams led Lincoln with 13 points and four assists, while Josh Wallace had a team-high seven rebounds to go with 11 points. Chuck Wilson added 10 points and six boards.

Missouri Southern 81, Lincoln 66
Both teams shot .458 from the field, but Lincoln was forced into 21 turnovers as the Blue Tigers fell on the road to Missouri Southern, 81-66, on Dec. 18. Tre'vion Crawford led LU with 15 points and Yaniel Vidal added 11.

Emporia State 76, Lincoln 69
The Blue Tigers led by three with seven minutes left in the game, but a 15-3 run helped Emporia State escape with the win in Jason Gym on Jan. 1, 2022. Four Lincoln players scored in double digits, led by Derrick Woods with 19 and Destan Williams with 13 and six assists. John Gaines had 11 points and Ni'Sean Rigmaiden finished with 10. Woods had a team-high eight rebounds.

SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS:  Four Broncho players average double digit points, led by Isaiah Wade's 19.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. Camryn Givens is next in both categories with 16.1 points and 5.9 boards, while Jaden Wells is averaging 14.2 points and 5.3 rebounds. Leading the team in assists with 5.7 per game is Callen Haydon, who also averages 13.4 points.

UCO HEAD COACH BOB HOFFMAN:  A long-time veteran of the Division I ranks who posted 209 victories over 11 seasons at Mercer, Hoffman is in his third year as the coach of the Bronchos. Hoffman, who won an NAIA national title as a women's coach and who has nearly 250 wins as a men's coach at the NAIA level, has 37 wins at Central Oklahoma.

TO BE PLAYED LATER:  Due to concerns with COVID-19, Lincoln's last three games have had to be postponed. The Blue Tigers' game against Nebraska Kearney on the road will now take place on Monday, Jan. 24 at 3:00 p.m. CST. LU will play at Fort Hays State on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, at 5:00 p.m. CST. A new day and time for Lincoln's home game against Newman will be announced at a later date.

WELCOME BACK:  Rejoining Lincoln starting this week is Sai Witt, one of LU's leading scorers in 2020-21. Witt, a second team All-MIAA player, was one of four finalists for the Black College Sports Network's NCAA Division II Player of the Year Award after averaging 16.1 points and 8.2 boards. Witt earned three player of the week awards last season, and shot .560 from the floor, the third-best average in the MIAA.

HELPING HANDS:  The Blue Tigers are doing a good job moving the ball, as Lincoln ranks sixth in the MIAA in assists with 13.4 per contest. LU is led in this category by Destan Williams, who is averaging 3.9 assists, the seventh-most in the league. Ni'Sean Rigmaiden is 11th in the league with 3.0 assists per contest.

EVERY GAME STARTER:  Chuck Wilson is the only Blue Tiger who has started all 11 games this year, as Lincoln has used five different starting-five combinations in 2021-22. Wilson, who has scored at least 10 points in five games this year, is leading the Blue Tigers in rebounding (4.6) and is second in scoring (9.5). Wilson is shooting .388 from the field and .750 at the free throw line.

FROM DOWNTOWN:  Lincoln is shooting .359 from three-point range this season, the sixth-best percentage in the MIAA. Ni'Sean Rigmaiden leads the Blue Tigers with a .500 accuracy rate, and is second on the team with 18 made treys on the year. Chuck Wilson leads Lincoln with 21 made three-pointers, and Mark Boland and Derrick Woods are each next with 11. Tre'Vion Crawford is shooting .467 from beyond the arc.

LU IN THE MIAA:  The Blue Tigers rank highly in the league in several statistics, including rating third in the MIAA with 9.9 offensive rebounds per game. Lincoln also is sixth in three-point percentage (.359), third in fewest fouls (187), and LU is sixth in both assists per game (13.4) and in rebounds per contest (34.6).

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:  The Blue Tigers tip off a five-game road trip with a 7:30 p.m. CST game vs. Rogers State in Claremore, Okla. on Thursday (Jan. 20).