Complete Game Notes | MIAA Championship Central
Game #30: No. 10 Lincoln (15-14) vs. No. 2 Fort Hays State (22-6)
Date: Thursday, March 7, 2024
Time: 8:15 p.m. CST
Site: Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
Tickets: Available at www.Ticketmaster.com
Radio Broadcast (on KJLU 88.9 FM): https://www.kjluradio.com/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers
Live Stats: https://themiaa.com/sidearmstats/mbball/

THE TIP OFF:  Following a thrilling win over Emporia State on Wednesday night (March 6), the Lincoln men's basketball team's season continues on Thursday (March 7) as the Blue Tigers advance to the quarterfinals of the 2024 MIAA Men's Basketball Championship. Lincoln tips off against Fort Hays State inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. at 8:15 p.m. CST. Lincoln, the No. 10 team in the tournament, relied on staunch defense and late scoring to defeat Emporia State, 59-55, in the first round of the championship. Fort Hays State holds the No. 2 seed and enters with a 22-6 record. The winner of Thursday's game advances to the semifinals on Saturday (March 9), where it will take on the winner of the game between the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds.

FAST BREAKS
- Lincoln and Fort Hays State are meeting for the 32nd time on Thursday evening, with FHSU leading the series 21-10.

- Fort Hays State won both meetings this season, beating Lincoln, 69-64, in Hays, Kan. on Jan. 6, and 60-41 inside Jason Gym on Feb. 15.

- FHSU is currently ranked No. 16 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll.

- LU and FHSU last met in the postseason in 2019, with Lincoln winning in the MIAA quarterfinals, 74-69.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Elijah Farr is averaging 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds while DJ Richardson is scoring 15.2 points per night and dishing 3.3 assists. Franck Yetna, with 10.7 points per contest, is also one of the team's top scorers while Jamar Madge, Jr. averages 6.8 points and Jose Roberto Tanchyn averages 6.4.

HEAD COACH JIMMY DREW:  In his second year as the head coach at Lincoln, Drew has led the Blue Tigers to the postseason in each of his first two seasons. Drew led the Blue Tigers to 17 overall wins and 13 conference victories, the latter a program record, in 2022-23.  Drew spent six years on the staff at Division I Central Florida, where he helped UCF to a pair of 20-win seasons and second round berth in the NCAA tourney.

LAST TIME OUT:  DJ Richardson scored a game-high 19 points, Elijah Farr finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds, Franck Yetna finished with 10 boards and Trey Boston had 11 points and seven rebounds as Lincoln beat Emporia State, 59-55, in the first round of the MIAA Championship on Wednesday (March 6). Jamar Madge, Jr. chipped in seven points while Yetna finished with five.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:  Kaleb Hammeke, with 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists, leads a balanced FHSU scoring attack that out-scores its opponents by an average of 66.4-57.4. Elijah Nnanabu is scoring 12.8 points per game while Bjarni Jonsson, the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, is tallying 7.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest. Shaun Riley scores 7.9 points per game and Jaheim Holden is next with 7.3 points per night.

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 12 seasons under Johnson, with four players earning All-American honors.

ALL-MIAA:  After leading Lincoln in points all season, DJ Richardson was selected to the All-MIAA third team. Richardson, who finished the regular season 19th in the country with a free throw percentage of .887, had eight games with at least 20 points and 20 total performances with at least 10 points. Richardson was the MIAA's seventh-leading scorer, and he also averaged 3.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds.

PLAYOFFS!:  Lincoln is playing in the postseason for the eighth time in the past nine years this week and is making its second-straight trip to Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium. In six of its last nine playoff appearances, including this season, the Blue Tigers have won at least one game. LU has twice reached the championship game of the MIAA Men's Basketball tourney, losing to Truman State in 1981 and falling to Southeastern Missouri in 1987. Overall, LU is 8-10 in MIAA tournament games, including 2-1 in overtime.

FARR OUT:  Elijah Farr, who has recorded nine double-doubles this season, has stepped up his scoring over the past two months. In 12 of the Blue Tigers' last 18 games, Farr has finished with at least 10 points, and he has hit double figures in 20 total games in 2023-24. Farr is averaging 12.4 points for the season, the second-best average on the team, and he is also recording 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest.

REJECTED:  The Blue Tigers have blocked 98 shots in 2023-24, the fifth-most of any MIAA team. Lincoln, which is also fifth in the league and 87th in the country in blocks per game (3.4), has three players with at least 20 blocks. Elijah Farr (29) and Jose Roberto Tanchyn (29) are tied for eighth in the MIAA in blocks while Franck Yetna has 22.

GET YOUR TICKETS:  Tickets for the 2024 MIAA Championship tournament are available for sale on TicketMaster.com. Single session tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for students.

LU PLAYS ON KJLU:  KJLU 88.9 FM in Jefferson City, Mo., the long-time broadcasting partner of Blue Tiger athletics, will air Thursday night's basketball game from Kansas City. Aaron Moser will handle the play-by-play as Lincoln plays in the MIAA Championship quarterfinals.

NOTABLE NATIONAL NUMBERS:  Lincoln is sharp at the line, shooting .777, NCAA Division II's 16th-best free throw percentage. The Blue Tiger defense is 23rd in DII, as opponents score just 66.9 points per contest. Lincoln's field goal defense (.427) is the country's 64th-best while LU's 3.4 blocks per game rank 87th nationally.

PLAY IT, DJ:  DJ Richardson, who has the nation's 20th-best free throw percentage of .887, is leading Lincoln, and he is seventh in the MIAA, with 15.2 points per game. He is leading Lincoln with 3.3 assists per game, averages 3.5 boards and is shooting .466 overall, with that percentage ranking 10th in the MIAA. His 89 made three throws are also the 10th-most by an MIAA player this season while his 425 total points rank eighth.

QUITE FRANCKLY:  Franck Yetna has scored at least 10 points in 17 games this season to average 10.7 points per game, but he has also been great at rebounding. Yetna has grabbed at least five rebounds in 16 contests, including a 20-point, 10-board night against Missouri Southern. Yetna has helped LU out-rebound opponents 11 times in 2023-24.

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:  If the Blue Tigers win on Thursday, they will play the winner of Pittsburg State vs. Central Oklahoma on Saturday (March 9).