KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Elijah Farr had a double-double, DJ Richardson and Trey Boston each scored in double figures and the Lincoln men's basketball team defeated Emporia State, 59-55, in the first round of the 2024 MIAA Men's Basketball Championship on Wednesday night (March 6).

With the win, the Blue Tigers advance to the tournament quarterfinals to play Fort Hays State on Thursday (March 7). Tip-off for that game in Municipal Auditorium is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. CST.

Farr scored 17 points, collected a team-high 12 rebounds, and had an assist, a block and a steal as the Blue Tigers relied on their staunch defense to ground the Hornets. Emporia State shot just .321 overall and .200 from three-point range, with the Blue Tigers allowing just three successful shots from long distance. Both teams finished with 36 rebounds, but Lincoln shot .429 from the field for the ballgame and .522 in the second half.

Richardson scored a game-high 19 points to go with two assists and a steal. Boston, meanwhile, finished with 11 points, seven boards, an assist and a block.

Emporia State (19-12) led by eight with 1:36 to play in the first half, but Richardson cut that lead down to six with a layup. After ESU went 1-for-2 at the free throw line, Boston drained a bucket from downtown to send the game into halftime with ESU leading, 32-28.

In the second half, Lincoln (15-14) held the Hornets to just 23 points as the contest became a back-and-forth affair, with six ties and nine lead changes. With just under three minutes remaining, Farr scored on a layup to give LU a 52-51 advantage. The Hornets answered with a layup of their own, but Jamar Madge, Jr. drove down the court and made a basket put LU back on top. Madge scored seven points on Wednesday and also dished an assist.

After a miss by Emporia State, Sam Rautins claimed the rebounds and passed the ball to Richardson, who was sent to the line. A free throw made it a two-point Lincoln lead, though ESU made a free throw on its next possession to cut the LU advantage to 55-54. Richardson and Boston combined to make four free throws afterwards and the Blue Tigers held off the Hornets to secure their first postseason victory since 2020.

Franck Yetna pulled down 10 rebounds and chipped in five points to go with a pair of blocks and a steal. Rautins had two rebounds, two steals and an assist, and Tyson Robinson ended the night with one board while Jose Roberto Tanchyn had three.