JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Four members of the Lincoln men's basketball team scored in double figures, with Kevin Kone and Sai Witt recording double-doubles, but the Blue Tigers fell to Emporia State, 72-66, on Saturday (Feb. 18).

Kone scored 17 points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, and Witt tallied 14 points, 10 boards, an assist and a steal. Artese Stapleton dished three assists to go with 12 points and five rebounds, while Sam Rautins finished with 10 points, two boards and a pair of assists.

Lincoln (17-7, 13-7 MIAA) shot .446 overall, but just .294 from three-point range and .647 at the line as Emporia State (20-6, 14-6 MIAA) snapped LU's six-game home win streak. The Hornets shot .500 for the ballgame, though Lincoln held ESU to .278 shooting beyond the arc. Both teams finished with 34 rebounds, and the Hornets held just a slim 7-8 edge in turnovers. The difference in the game was Emporia State's Owen Long, who led all scorers with 32 points on the afternoon.

Emporia State led from start to finish, including holding a 38-27 advantage at halftime. The Blue Tigers scored the first nine points of the second half to pull within two, but the Hornets answered with a 9-0 run of their own. Witt drained a three with 3:04 to play to cut the ESU lead down to one, 60-59, but Emporia State bounced back to regain a seven-point cushion.

With less than a minute remaining, Rautins hit a shot to cut the deficit down to 66-64, but ESU made a three to go back up by five. Stapleton made a basket to cut the ESU lead to three, but that was as close as LU would come to rallying. 

DJ Richardson added seven points, two assists and three rebounds to the Lincoln cause, and Jamar Madge, Jr. came off the bench to supply four points and a rebound. Tyson Robinson made two free throws to close the scoring.

Saturday was the final home game of 2022-23 for the Blue Tigers, who finish with an 11-3 record inside Jason Gym. Before the game, a Senior Day ceremony was held, recognizing Kone, Page, Stapleton and Witt.

Lincoln will close the regular season on the road, beginning on Thursday (Feb. 23) with a 7:30 p.m. CST game in Tahlequah, Okla. against Northeastern State.