KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln men's basketball team gave Fort Hays State all it could handle, but a late rally fell just short as the Blue Tigers fell to FHSU, 65-60, in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Championship tournament on Thursday night (March 7).

Fort Hays State entered the night ranked No. 16 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II poll, but Lincoln opened the game strong, taking a 12-5 lead after Franck Yetna stole the ball and took it to the hoop with 13 minutes left in the first half. FHSU rallied to tie the game at 14, but Trey Boston drained a three to put Lincoln back on top. Boston finished the evening with a team-high 19 points and had three rebounds as well as an assist and a steal.

The contest was deadlocked on four occasions during the first half before Fort Hays State (23-6) took a 33-31 advantage into halftime. Lincoln (15-15) cut its deficit down to two multiple times in the second half, but a pair of free throws with just under four to play gave FHSU a 60-50 lead.

The Blue Tigers proved resilient, beginning with a three-pointer by DJ Richardson that pulled LU to within seven. Richardson later made a free throw, Elijah Farr blocked a shot and Richardson claimed the rebound to set up Boston for a three, bringing Lincoln to within 60-57. Richardson had 11 points, five boards, four assists and a steal. Farr, meanwhile, scored 16 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds to go with a pair of assists and two blocks.

On the next FHSU possession, Lincoln forced a pair of missed shots and Farr grabbed a rebound to give LU a chance to tie, but the three-point attempt was off target, keeping Fort Hays State ahead by three entering the final minute of the game. FHSU was whistled for traveling and the Blue Tigers missed another three, forcing LU to foul. Fort Hays State made three-consecutive shots at the line to push its lead back up to six, but Boston cut it back down to 63-60 with a quick trey. The Blue Tigers nearly got the ball back by trapping FHSU after an inbound pass, but LU ended up getting called for a foul, ending the rally.

Yetna also finished in double figures, tallying 10 points, eight boards, a block and a steal. Jamar Madge, Jr. closed the scoring with four points and two rebounds, Jose Roberto Tanchyn blocked a shot and Sam Rautins provided three rebounds and an assist.