TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Lincoln men's basketball team scored 31 points in the second half while trying to rally from an 11-point halftime deficit, but Northeastern State escaped with the win, 59-50, on Saturday (Jan. 22).

Facing a nine-point deficit with 17:42 to play, Chuck Wilson made a pair of free throws and Derrick Woods hit a jumper to bring the Blue Tigers to within 34-29 of the RiverHawks. NSU answered with a jumper of its own, but Yaniel Vidal drained a three to pull LU to within four. The RiverHawks eventually built their lead back up to 10, but Lincoln continued to battle, as Destan Williams scored five-straight points to bring LU to within 55-50 of NSU with 2:24 left in regulation. Northeastern State kept the Blue Tigers from getting any closer, however, as the RiverHawks scored the game's final four points to prevail.

Lincoln (1-13, 0-9 MIAA) finished with a slight 38-37 advantage in rebounding and held the RiverHawks to just .182 shooting from three-point range. Northeastern State (9-9, 4-8 MIAA) forced LU into 11 turnovers, however, and made 17 of its 24 free throw attempts. 

Josh Wallace led LU with 11 rebounds and chipped in six points, Woods finished with 11 points and five boards, and Williams dished three assists to go with 11 points. Wilson had 10 points and three boards, and Ni'Sean Rigmaiden finished with six points, six rebounds and three assists. Vidal collected three rebounds, John Gaines made a free throw and Alafia Oluwasogo grabbed a rebound. Mark Boland rounded out Lincoln with two points and five boards.

The Blue Tigers next travel to Maryville, Mo. on Thursday (Jan. 27) to take on Northwest Missouri in a 7:30 p.m. CST contest.