JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Six members of the Lincoln men's basketball team scored at least 10 points as the Blue Tigers overcame a slow start to beat Pittsburg State, 90-71, on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 4). The game was LU's annual Coaches vs. Cancer/Think Pink Game.

Sai Witt and Artese Stapleton each scored 17 points, with Witt dishing an assist to go with five rebounds and Stapleton tallying four boards, five assists and two steals. DJ Richardson, who had two rebounds, a steal and a pair of assists, matched Jamar Madge, Jr. with 10 points. Madge also pulled down three rebounds.

Kevin Kone notched his MIAA-leading 11th double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Also scoring in double figures was Sam Rautins, who notched 15 points to go with an assist and a rebound.

Lincoln (15-5, 11-5 MIAA) won its fifth-straight home game for its longest streak inside Jason Gym since winning six in a row in 2015-16. The Blue Tigers have won eight of their last nine games, and, for the eighth time in a row, defeated Pittsburg State in Jason Gym.

Pittsburg State (6-17, 3-14 MIAA) began the game hot, went on a 13-0 run early in the game, and held an 18-6 advantage with 13:18 left in the opening half. An old-fashioned three-point play by Witt followed by a bucket from Kone cut the deficit down to seven, and Kone later made a pair of free throws to spring LU onto a 7-3 run to pull within five. PSU would lead by as many as eight later in the half, but two more free throws by Kone and a trey knocked down by Rautins helped LU to make it a one-point game with five minutes until the break.

The Blue Tigers ended the first half strong, out-scoring the Gorillas 14-7 over the final five minutes of the first half to go ahead, 47-41, at halftime. Lincoln, which shot .517 from the floor in the first half, shot .636 from three-point range in the second, sinking seven treys during the second half. For the game, LU shot .508 overall and .455 from long distance; out-rebounded the Gorillas, 31-22; and forced PSU into 16 turnovers while only committing six.

Tyson Robinson provided four points, a rebound and an assist off the bench, and Arash Yaqubi made a late three. Franck Yetna grabbed a rebound while Caleb Wright and Emmette Page also represented LU on the court in Saturday's win.

The Blue Tigers will be on the road for their next two games, beginning on Thursday (Feb. 9) with a visit to Hays, Kan. to play Fort Hays State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.