ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Lincoln men's basketball team played against MIssouri-St. Louis, the team it beat in the championship game of the GLVC Men's Basketball Tournament last season, on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 17). This time, however, it was UMSL finishing on top, as the Blue Tigers dropped a 78-64 decision to the Tritons.

Solomon Oraegbu led the Blue Tigers with 19 points and grabbed four rebounds to go with an assist, a steal and a block. Two other Blue Tigers scored in double figures, including Max Ekono, who nearly posted a double-double by tallying 10 points, eight boards, two assists and a steal. Malcolm Davis, meanwhile, ended the day with 17 points, two rebounds and a pair of assists.

The score was tied five times and there were two lead changes in the first half, as Missouri-St. Louis (11-8, 5-5 GLVC) shot .546 from the field and .737 from three-point range. Lincoln held the Tritons to .346 shooting from the floor and .167 shooting from long range in the second half, with the Blue Tigers shooting .429 over the final 20 minutes. UMSL ended up scoring two more points than the Blue Tigers in the second half, though, to hold on for the win.

D'Necco Rucker and Matthieu Biembongo each scored seven points, with Rucker additionally collecting five rebounds and dishing an assist. Biembongo blocked three shots, pulled down three rebounds and provided a steal and an assist. Tyler Chapman and Elliott Yorke, Jr. closed the scoring with two points apiece. Chapman also tallied two steals, two assists and two rebounds.

Tyler Lucas had four rebounds and led the Blue Tigers with three assists. Rashad Williams finished with three boards and a block. Robin Discamps dished two assists and grabbed a rebound.

Lincoln returns home on Thursday (Jan. 22) to host Maryville at 7:30 p.m. CST.