Complete Game Notes
Game #17: Central Missouri (9-10, 5-8 MIAA) at Lincoln (12-5, 8-5 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023
Time: 3:00 p.m. CST
Site: Jason Gym (1,538) in Jefferson City, Mo.
Tickets: https://lubluetigers.com/tickets
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball

THE TIP OFF:  Winners of five of its last six contests, the Lincoln men's basketball team will try to remain hot on Saturday (Jan. 28) when the Blue Tigers play Central Missouri at 3:00 p.m. CST. This game, which tips off a three-game homestand for LU, is also the first rematch of the season for the Blue Tigers, who are 12-5 overall and 8-5 in MIAA play. Lincoln is coming a 2-1 performance on a three-game road trip, as LU beat Missouri Western, 59-38, on Jan. 19 and Missouri Southern, 84-82, on Jan. 23 while falling to Northwest Missouri, 59-38, on Saturday (Jan. 21). Central Missouri is 9-10 on the season as well as 5-8 in the MIAA, and has won two of its last three.

FAST BREAKS
- The Blue Tigers and Central Missouri will meet for the 102nd time on Saturday, with UCM leading the series, 62-39.

- Lincoln has won two-straight against the Mules after beating Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo. back on Dec. 11, 74-72. The Blue Tigers also ended the 2021-22 season by beating UCM at home, 89-79.

- LU has won each of its last five home games against Central Missouri.

- A victory on Saturday would be the third in a row at home for Lincoln and would give the Blue Tigers their second three-game home win streak of the season.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln has three prolific scorers in Artese Stapleton (18.1 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 3.4 apg.), Sai Witt (15.0 ppg., 8.0 rpg.) and Kevin Kone (13.4 ppg.), with Kone additionally leading LU in rebounds with a 12.6 average. Lincoln is out-scoring opponents, 71.2-63.4, and out-rebounding its foes, 40.2-30.8. Franck Yetna is averaging 4.3 boards while DJ Richardson is tallying 7.6 points per night.

HEAD COACH JIMMY DREW:  In his first year as the head coach at Lincoln, Drew came to LU following a six-year run on the staff at Division I Central Florida. Drew helped lead UCF to a pair of 20-win seasons and a berth in the second round of the NCAA tournament, and he coached three players who went on to play in the NBA.

LAST TIME OUT
Lincoln 70, Missouri Western 56
Artese Stapleton and Sai Witt each scored 19 while Kevin Kone had 16 points and 16 rebounds as the Blue Tigers beat Missouri Western, 70-56, on Jan. 19. DJ Richardson added 10 points as LU shot .600 in the second half while outscoring the Griffons, 44-32.

Northwest Missouri 59, Lincoln 38
Northwest Missouri allowed Lincoln to score just 14 points in the first half and held off LU to win a 59-38 defensive tussle on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 21). Artese Stapleton led Lincoln with 13 points and Kevin Kone grabbed nine rebounds while Franck Yetna blocked three shots.

Lincoln 84, Missouri Southern 82
The Blue Tigers led by 10 at halftime and held off Missouri Southern's second half comeback to win in Joplin, Mo., 84-82, on Monday (Jan. 23). The lead ended up changing 12 times with nine ties, but Lincoln, which shot .808 from the free throw line, made nine-straight shots at the stripe to close out the game. Kevin Kone and Sai Witt each scored 21 points, with Kone grabbing 18 boards, and DJ Richardson added 17 points.

SCOUTING THE MULES:  Gaven Pinkley and Mikel Henderson are each averaging 12.8 points per game, with Pinkley also leading UCM with 5.3 rebounds per contest. Garrett Luinstra is the team's leader in assists with a 3.1 average, and Kobe Campbell is averaging 9.8 points while Jack Chapman averages 9.2 points. The Mule have a 69.2-65.4 advantage in scoring, but are being out-rebounded by an average of 35.3-33.5.

UCM HEAD COACH DOUG KARLESKINT:  In his ninth season as the head coach of the Mules, Karleskint has directed Central Missouri to more than 100 wins and a trip to the NCAA Division II tournament. Three of his Mules teams have eclipsed 20 wins in a season. Karleskint came to UCM after a four-year career at Arkansas Tech in which he won 89 games and qualified for the NCAA tournament every year.

SAI ANYTHING:  Since joining the lineup on Dec. 19, Sai Witt has given Lincoln a huge spark in every aspect of the game. Witt is averaging 15.0 points, the second-most on the team, as well as 8.0 rebounds, the second-most on the squad. Witt has also dished 13 assists, recorded nine steals and blocked eight shots while shooting .474 from the field.

DEFENDING DIVISION II:  The Blue Tigers boast one of the top defenses in NCAA Division II, ranking 18th out of 290 teams with just 63.4 points allowed per game. That has helped LU post a scoring margin of +7.8 that ranks 61st in the country. Meanwhile, Lincoln's .419 field goal defense is 63rd in Division II.

TOP OF THE GLASS:  Lincoln continues to be one of the best rebounding teams in the country, averaging 40.2 per night, the most in the MIAA and 23rd-most in Division II. LU ranks eighth nationally in rebound margin (+9.4); is 10th in the nation in offensive rebounding average (14.1); and Lincoln is third in the MIAA in defensive boards with 26.1 per game.

THE ART OF SCORING:  Artese Stapleton enters the week as the MIAA's second-leading scorer with 18.1 points per game, and he has scored at least 11 points in every game he's played. Stapleton, who has three 20-point games, had a 27-point, 10-assist day in the victory over Calvary. His scoring average is also the 70th-best in NCAA Division II this season.

LEADING THE NATION:  Kevin Kone has proven to be the country's top rebounder, as he continues to lead NCAA Division II in rebounds per game with 12.6 per night. He is also leading Division II in offensive rebounds per contest (5.0), while his 202 total rebounds are the third-most by a Division II player this season. Kone's 7.6 defensive boards per game rate 10th in the country.

DOUBLE TIME:  In addition to leading the country on the glass, Kevin Kone is also a proficient scorer, averaging 13.4 points per contest, the 16th-best average in the MIAA and the third-best among the Blue Tigers. Kone, who had a 21-point, 18-rebound night against Missouri Southern, has nine double-doubles on the season, the most by an MIAA player and the fifth-most in Division II.

NO FOUL, NO FOUL!:  Lincoln rarely fouls, with just 15.0 per game, the second-lowest average in the MIAA. The Blue Tigers, who are 41st in DII in fewest fouls, are getting to the line an average of 20.5 times per contest (67th in D2).

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 14 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 remain at home on Thursday (Feb. 2) to host Missouri Southern at 7:30 p.m. CST.