JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A late run in the second half helped Northeastern State hand the Lincoln men's basketball team an 82-74 loss on Thursday night (Feb. 29).

DJ Richardson and Sam Rautins tied for the lead in scoring with 16 points apiece. Richardson also had three rebounds and three assists while Rautins led LU with three steals and grabbed two rebounds. Franck Yetna finished with a team-high seven boards and added 12 points while Peyton Williams came off the bench to provide 10 points, two rebounds and an assist.

Northeastern State (11-16, 6-15 MIAA) started the game hot, using a three-pointer to take a 17-5 lead with 13:37 remaining until halftime. The Blue Tigers relied on the long ball to get back in the game, making eight three-pointers in the first half and 11 total on the evening. Back-to-back treys by Yetna and Rautins closed the gap to 26-24 with 7:31 left on the first half clock, but the RiverHawks eventually worked their lead back to eight.

Jamar Madge, Jr., who ended the game with five points and two assists, drained a three to cut the deficit to 34-29, NSU made a free throw, and Richardson followed with a three-pointer to pull Lincoln within three. Richardson cut the NSU lead to 35-34 on a jumper with 1:36 left until halftime, and another three by Rautins later sent the game into halftime with the Blue Tigers leading, 38-37.

With 9:15 remaining in the game, Lincoln (14-13, 9-12 MIAA) took a 64-54 lead on a bucket by Yetna. The RiverHawks responded by scoring the next nine points, however, with a pair of free throws by Jose Roberto Tanchyn briefly giving the Blue Tigers a 66-63 cushion. Northeastern State again went on a run, scoring the next eight points of the game and 19 of the contest's final 27 points to secure the win. Tanchyn had four points, three rebounds and two assists on Thursday.

Elijah Farr provided nine points, five rebounds, a block, a steal and an assist to the Lincoln cause while Tyson Robinson closed the scoring with two points and three assists. 

Lincoln closes the regular season on Saturday (March 2) by hosting Rogers State at 3:00 p.m. CST. It will be a white out game, with fans encouraged to show up wearing white, and will also be senior day, with a pre-game ceremony planned to honor graduating players Farr, Madge, Arash Yaqubi, Rautins and Richardson.