EDMOND, Okla. - Strong scoring performances by Joshua Buie and Mike Smith weren't enough for Lincoln as the Blue Tigers suffered a 93-70 loss to Central Oklahoma on Sunday in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup.
Buie and Smith led all scorers with 21 points each and Blake Ralling added 15 to lead Lincoln (4-7, 1-1), but Central Oklahoma (9-2, 2-0) placed five players in double figures and shot 56 percent from the field to keep the Blue Tigers from starting MIAA play with back-to-back wins.
Cal Andrews and Jacob Strassie put up 14 points apiece to lead the Broncos, who outrebounded Lincoln 37-24 and forced 18 turnovers.
The Blue Tigers were 22-of-48 (46 percent) from the field and 22-of-30 (73 percent) from the free-throw line.
Lincoln and Central Oklahoma were tied at 19 with 9:44 to play in the first half, but the Broncos went into the break with a 48-29 lead and cruised from there.
The game, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, was moved to Sunday after Central Oklahoma's football team was selected to play in Saturday's Mineral Water Bowl. Sioux Falls beat Central Oklahoma 42-10 in the game held in Excelsior Springs.
Lincoln will continue MIAA play at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 18 when the Blue Tigers host Washburn.