MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri Bearcats proved why they are the top-ranked team in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
That might be an understatement.
Northwest Missouri placed five players in double figures, while limiting Lincoln to just one as the Bearcats cruised to a 92-59 win against the Blue Tigers in an MIAA matchup on Saturday evening.
James Edmond poured in a game-high 25 points to lead Lincoln, while Joshua Buie chipped in with nine and Charles Cole added eight to help pace the Blue Tigers, who were held under 60 points for just the second time this season.
Lincoln (2-18, 0-12) struggled offensively, knocking down 21-of-55 of its shots from the field against a Northwest Missouri defense that is ranked second in the MIAA.
Grant Cozad scored 16 points to pace the Bearcats (16-5, 11-1), who were 34-of-56 from the field, including 10-of-18 from 3-point range, and claimed a 43-17 rebounding advantage. Northwest Missouri also had 43 bench points, compared to the Blue Tigers' 13.
Lincoln was able to stay within striking distance early, but the Bearcats proved to be too tough down the stretch.
The Blue Tigers jumped out to a 9-8 lead in the first three minutes of the game, but Northwest Missouri answered with a 13-5 surge to go up by seven before taking a 41-30 advantage into the second half.
A three-point play by Cole brought Lincoln within six with 18:48 to play, but that's when things started to fall apart.
Northwest Missouri outscored the Blue Tigers 25-10 over the next eight minutes to take a 66-45 advantage with 10:57 remaining and the Bearcats were able to cruise from there.
Northwest Missouri maintained at least an 18-point lead before gaining a 30-plus point advantage in the final 53 seconds.
Lincoln, which has now lost 12 straight, will host Lindenwood at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jason Gym.
III
The Lincoln women's basketball team placed three players in double figures, but it wasn't enough as the Blue Tigers fell to Northwest Missouri 55-47 in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup on Saturday afternoon.
Jennifer Rosado scored 13 points, pulled down five rebounds and recorded four steals to lead the Blue Tigers, who lost their 12th straight.
Quiessence Price and Hunter Yoakum both tallied 11 points, while Angela Randall finished with nine points, six rebounds and four steals to help pace Lincoln (3-16, 0-12).
The Blue Tigers were 17-of-53 (32.1 percent) from the field in the game, but just 6-of-25 (24 percent) in the second half.
Ariel Easton poured in a game-high 22 points to lead Northwest Missouri (7-12, 4-8), which was 19-47 (40.4 percent) from the field and 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) from behind the arc.
Lincoln found itself in the driver's seat when Rosado converted on a three-point play and Randall followed with a 3 to give the Blue Tigers an 18-13 lead with 10:29 left in the first half.
Lincoln remained in control for the next five minutes, but Northwest Missouri rallied to take a 31-27 lead into the break and the Bearcats didn't trail from there.
Rosado hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 35 with 12:51 left, but the Blue Tigers missed their next four shots as the Northwest Missouri used a 9-0 to take a 44-35 lead with 9:08 remaining.
Lincoln was able to cut its deficit to five with 1:33 to play, but that's as close as the Blue Tigers would get.
Lincoln will host Lindenwood at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jason Gym.