Complete Game Notes | 2023-24 Home Game Policies
Game #3: Lincoln (2-0) at Harris Stowe (2-5)
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m. CST
Site: St. Louis, Mo.

Game #4: Spurgeon (4-0) at Lincoln
Date: Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023
Time: 6:00 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers/
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/

THE TIP OFF:  After opening the season with a pair of wins on a neutral court, the Lincoln men's basketball team will try to remain perfect when it plays its first road game and first home game of 2023-24 this week. The Blue Tigers will travel to St. Louis, Mo. on Wednesday (Nov. 15) to play Harris Stowe in a 7:30 p.m. CST contest. The Hornets have already played seven games this season and enter the week with a 2-5 record. On Thursday (Nov. 16), the Blue Tigers host Spurgeon at 6:00 p.m. CST in LU's home opener. Spurgeon is 4-0 on the season, but will play Ecclesia on Tuesday night. Lincoln opened its season with a 78-70 victory over Harding on Friday (Nov. 10) before beating Ouachita Baptist, 68-63, this past Saturday (Nov. 11).

FAST BREAKS
- Wednesday marks the 24th time that Lincoln and Harris Stowe will play one another, with the Blue Tigers leading the all-time series, 21-2.

- LU and HSSU met last season, with Lincoln winning in Jason Gym, 78-49. The last time the teams played in St. Louis, however, Harris Stowe won, 89-84, in overtime.

- Thursday marks the first-ever meeting between Lincoln and Spurgeon.

- Lincoln has won three-straight home openers and is playing for its first 4-0 start since 1984-85.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Elijah Farr is averaging 11 points and 10.5 rebounds while DJ Richardson is scoring 27.5 points per night as LU is 2-0 on the young season. Franck Yetna, with 12 points per contest, is also one of the Blue Tigers' top scorers while Sam Rautins averages 7.0 points and 2.5 assists.

HEAD COACH JIMMY DREW:  In his second year as the head coach at Lincoln, Drew led the Blue Tigers to 17 overall wins and 13 conference victories, the latter a program record, in 2022-23. Drew came to LU following a six-year run on the staff at Division I Central Florida, where he helped UCF to a pair of 20-win seasons and a berth in the second round of the NCAA tourney.

LAST TIME OUT
Lincoln 78, Harding 70
DJ Richardson exploded for 28 points and Elijah Farr posted a double-double as Lincoln won its season opener, 78-70, against Harding in Fort Smith, Ark. on Friday (Nov. 10). Farr finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals while Franck Yetna also scored 14 for a Blue Tiger team that shot .545 from the field and .478 from three-point range.

Lincoln 68, Ouachita Baptist 63
DJ Richardson led LU with 27 points and Franck Yetna scored 10 as the Blue Tigers improved to 2-0 on the season with a 68-63 win over Ouachita Baptist in Fort Smith, Ark. on Saturday (Nov. 11). Elijah Farr contributed eight points, 11 boards and two blocks as Lincoln rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second half.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS:  Harris Stowe won its first game of the season with a 103-32 victory at home over Moody Baptist, then lost its next five before getting back in the win column with a 56-54 decision against Taylor. The Hornets score 67.7 points per game but allow 72.6, and average 30.3 rebounds as well as 15.3 turnovers. HSSU is shooting .567 from the floor.

HSSU HEAD COACH MICHAEL COOK:  In his second year as the head coach at Harris Stowe, Cook has led the Hornets to 10 victories. Before coming to Harris Stowe, Cook had a successful tenure as the head coach at Fort Scott, where he led the program to the No. 11 national ranking during his final season.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS:  Spurgeon, which plays in Division II of the National Christian College Athletic Association, is averaging 105.8 points as the Knights have started the season 4-0. Jude Warren leads the team with 31.5 points per game, followed by Drew Middleton (20.8) and Malikih Gillum (13.3). Warren (11.3 rebounds per game) and Gillum (10.3 rpg.) are each averaging double-doubles.

SC HEAD COACH BILLY LIVEZEY:  Livezey led a Spurgeon team that had won just five games in 2021-22 to a 14-victory season in 2022-23, his first year with the team. Livezey perviously was an assistant at Division III Cairns, where he helped the program earn its first-ever conference title and NCAA tournament appearance.

EXHIBITION SEASON:  Lincoln has only one exhibition game scheduled in 2023-24, as the Blue Tigers played at Division I Saint Louis last Wednesday (Nov. 8). The Billikens won, 102-66, but several LU players had notable performances. Tyson Robinson scored a team-high 15 points, DJ Richardson added 14 and Caleb Wright grabbed seven rebounds. Franck Yetna finished with 14 points and Elijah Farr had six boards.

LEADING THE MIAA:  The MIAA's best scorer and rebounder each play for Lincoln University. DJ Richardson, who averaged 27.5 points in the first two games of 2023-24, is leading the league in scoring while ranking fifth in NCAA Division II. Elijah Farr, who is averaging a double-double, leads the MIAA with 10.5 rebounds per night. He additionally ranks 30th in the nation in that stat as well as seventh in offensive boards (9.0).

SHOOTING STARS:  The Blue Tigers have had hot hands in the early part of 2023-24, rating second in the MIAA and 29th nationally with a .510 shooting percentage. Lincoln is also shooting .821 at the free throw line, the best mark in the MIAA and the 18th-best in the Division II. From three-point range, Lincoln is shooting .405, a percentage that rates third in the league and 55th in the country.

STANDING TALL:  Lincoln has one of the tallest rosters in program history this season, boasting an average team height of 6-5. Only one Blue Tiger measures in under six feet, with the tallest, Jose Roberto Tanchyn, standing at 6-10. Peyton Williams is 6-9, Elijah Farr is 6-8 and three more players measure at 6-7. A total of eight players are at least 6-5.

THE POLLS ARE OPEN:  The members of the media who regularly cover the MIAA are expecting another big year for the Blue Tigers, as Lincoln was picked sixth in the league's preseason media poll. The coaches were slightly less enthusiastic about LU's chances, picking Lincoln 12th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

GET YOUR TICKETS:  Lincoln is partnering up with Hometown Ticketing once again to sell tickets to all of LU's basketball games online in 2023-24. For more information, or to purchase single game or regular season tickets, 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 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 are off until Nov. 30, when Lincoln travels to Wichita, Kan. to play Newman in its MIAA opener at 7:30 p.m. CST.