Complete Game Notes
Game #21: Lincoln (15-5, 11-5 MIAA) at Fort Hays State (15-8, 10-7 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m. CST
Site: Hays, Kan.
Live Stats: https://fhsuathletics.com/sidearmstats/mbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

Game #22: Lincoln at Nebraska Kearney (4-18, 2-14 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023
Time: 4:00 p.m. CST
Site: Kearney, Neb.
Live Stats: https://lopers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

THE TIP OFF:  Winners of eight of its past nine games, the Lincoln men's basketball team tries to remain hot this week with a pair of road games against MIAA team. The Blue Tigers will first visit Hays, Kan. to take on Fort Hays State on Thursday (Feb. 9) at 7:30 p.m. CST. LU will be playing to avenge one of its rare losses this season, as FHSU beat Lincoln in Jason Gym, 66-53, on Jan. 2. Then, on Saturday (Feb. 11), the Blue Tigers travel to Kearney, Neb. to play a rematch with Nebraska Kearney at 4:00 p.m. CST. Lincoln won the first meeting, 78-65, on Dec. 31. The Blue Tigers swept a three-game homestand the last two weeks and have won four in a row.

FAST BREAKS
- On Thursday, Lincoln and Fort Hays State will meet for the 29th time, with FHSU leading the all-time series, 18-10.

- Seven of LU's 10 wins over Fort Hays State have come in Jason Gym, and another came on a neutral court in the 2019 MIAA tournament. Lincoln has won twice in Hays, with the last being an 85-77 victory in 1968-69.

- Lincoln plays Nebraska Kearney for the 19th time on Saturday. The all-time series is tied, 9-9.

- UNK swept the two meetings with LU in 2021-22, but LU won both meetings in 2020-21. Lincoln is playing for another sweep this season on Saturday.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln has three prolific scorers in Artese Stapleton (17.9 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 3.4 apg.), Sai Witt (14.9 ppg., 7.8 rpg.) and Kevin Kone (13.2 ppg.), with Kone additionally leading LU in rebounds with a 12.8 average. Lincoln is out-scoring opponents, 71.7-62.7, and out-rebounding its foes, 40.1-30.5. Franck Yetna is averaging 3.8 boards while DJ Richardson is tallying 8.4 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 76, Missouri Southern 57
Playing in front of one of Jason Gym's largest crowds of the season, Lincoln outscored Missouri Southern 52-31 in the second half to beat MSSU, 76-57, on Thursday (Feb. 2). Artese Stapleton led LU with 24 points and pulled down 12 boards while Sai Witt notched 15 points & 10 rebounds. Sam Rautins finished with 13 points, Kevin Kone added 13 boards and DJ Richardson scored 16.

Lincoln 90, Pittsburg State 71
Six LU players reached double digits, with Kevin Kone tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds, as LU defeated Pittsburg State, 90-71, on Saturday (Feb. 4) in Jason Gym. Artese Stapleton matched Sai Witt with 17 points apiece, and DJ Richardson and Jamar Madge, Jr. each chipped in 10. Sam Rautins provided 15 points.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:  Kaleb Hammeke is leading Fort Hays State with 15.9 points and 3.7 assists per game while Elijah Nnaanabu is next on the scoring chart with 10.2 points per night. FHSU is strong defensively, allowing just 58.1 points per contest while allowing opponents to shoot just .330 from three-point range.

FHSU HEAD COACH MARK JOHNSON:  The all-time wins leader at Fort Hays State, Johnson has more than 400 victories with the Tigers and has led FHSU to seven appearances in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers have won at least 20 games in nine seasons under Johnson, with three players earning All-American honors.\

SCOUTING THE LOPERS:  Nebraska Kearney enters the week scoring 66.8 points per game while allowing 75.0. Darrian Nebeker leads UNK with 16.5 points and 4.1 assists per game, and is also averaging 5.1 rebounds. Ryder Kirsch leads Nebraska Kearney in rebounding (5.5 rpg.) and averages 8.0 points, and Sean Evans scores 14.5 points to go with 4.0 rebounds per contest. Also among the Lopers' leaders is Tom Connelly, who is averaging 7.3 points and 5.0 rebounds.

UNK HEAD COACH KEVIN LOFTON:  In 2015-16, Lofton's first season as UNK's sole head coach, he guided the Lopers to the title game of the MIAA tournament and a bid to the NCAA tourney. Lofton spent the previous 10 years as UNK's co-head coach, and led the team to 171 wins, including 117 in league play. Lofton has led UNK to over 250 career victories.

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 14.9 points, the second-most on the team, as well as 7.8 rebounds, the second-most on the squad. Witt has also dished 15 assists, recorded 10 steals and blocked nine shots while shooting .458 from the field.

TOP OF THE GLASS:  Lincoln continues to be one of the best rebounding teams in the country, averaging 40.1 per night, the most in the MIAA and 18th-most in Division II. LU ranks sixth nationally in rebound margin (+9.6); is 16th in the nation in offensive rebounding average (13.6); and Lincoln is third in the MIAA in defensive boards with 26.6 per game.

THE ART OF SCORING:  Artese Stapleton enters the week as the MIAA's second-leading scorer with 17.9 points per game, and he has scored at least 11 points in every game he's played. Stapleton, who has four 20-point games, had a 27-point, 10-assist day in the victory over Calvary. His scoring average is also the 75th-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 12.8 per night. He is also leading Division II in offensive rebounds per contest (5.0), while his 244 total rebounds are the third-most by a Division II player this season. Kone's 7.8 defensive boards per game rate sixth in the country.

DOUBLE TIME:  In addition to leading the country on the glass, Kevin Kone is also a proficient scorer, averaging 13.2 points per contest, the 21st-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 11 double-doubles on the season, the most by an MIAA player and the fourth-most in Division II.

REGIONAL RESPECT:  For the first time in 2022-23, the Blue Tigers earned a mention in the D2SIDA Regional Poll. Lincoln, which has won eight of its last nine games, earned seven points to tie for 10th.

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 back at home next Thursday (Feb. 16) to host Washburn at 7:30 p.m. CST.