JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Franck Yetna turned in a double-double, but the Lincoln men's basketball team fell to Upper Iowa, 71-61, on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 7).

Yetna played 38 minutes on Saturday and led all scorers with 24 points while grabbing 12 rebounds, blocking two shots, recording a pair of steals and dishing an assist. Tyler Chapman also finished in double figures, scoring 10 points to go with four boards, two assists and a steal.

Upper Iowa (7-2, 2-1 GLVC) entered the game ranked No. 21 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll, but Lincoln (6-3, 1-3 GLVC) held its own defensively, holding the Peacocks to .379 shooting on three-pointers and posting a 42-34 advantage on rebounds. Lincoln also blocked seven shots, with Matthieu Biembongo accounting for five of those blocks. Biembongo ended the day with eight rebounds and four points.

The Blue Tigers allowed the Peacocks to shoot just .303 in the first half, but Upper Iowa took a 31-23 lead into the break. The second half started very well for Lincoln, as a three-pointer by Chapman led to a 9-0 run for LU and a 32-31 lead. UIU tied the game on a free throw, however, and ended up shooting .519 in the second half to take back control of the contest. In total there were nine lead changes and four ties, though the Blue Tigers only led for 2:52 of the ballgame.

Malcolm Davis grabbed nine rebounds, scored six points, dished a pair of assists and had a steal. Max Ekono also scored six points and had four boards while Mikey West added five points, two rebounds and two assists. Youssouf Timera had a rebounds and Tyson Robinson closed out the Blue Tigers with six points and a board.

Lincoln will next play on Thursday night (Dec. 12), as the Blue Tigers host Spurgeon in a 7:00 p.m. CST contest.