Lincoln basketball falls in opener: Minnesota-Duluth rolls, 89-58

BOLIVAR, Mo. - Despite placing four players in double figures, the Lincoln Blue Tigers suffered a 89-58 loss Friday to Minnesota-Duluth in the season opener for both teams on the first day of the Southwest Baptist University Classic.

Joshua Buie led Lincoln (0-1) with 20 points and five assists, while Zach Schraeder added 12 points and pulled down a team-high six rebounds. Victor Scott finished with 11 points and Mike Smith added 10 for the Blue Tigers, who went 19-of-48 from the field (39.6 percent) and 7-of-17 from behind the arc.

Pierre Newton, a 6-foot-5 forward, came off the bench to score a game-high 22 points, while Brett Ervin and Brendon Pineda both added 13 to lead Minnesota-Duluth (1-0).

The Bulldogs, who scored 46 points in the paint, were 32-of-55 from the field. Minnesota-Duluth went 18-of-21 from the free-throw line, knocked down seven 3-pointers and outrebounded Lincoln 37-18. Minnesota-Duluth also claimed a 37-5 advantage in bench points.

Minnesota-Duluth went on a 13-4 run early to take a 20-7 lead with 13:14 left in the first half. Lincoln was able to cut its deficit to 10 with 10:05 left before the break, but the Bulldogs ended the opening period with a 22-10 surge to take a 47-25 lead into the locker room.

Lincoln pulled within 19 with two minutes and 15 seconds into the second half, but the Blue Tigers couldn't get any closer.

Lincoln will conclude play in the Classic at 2 p.m. today against Southwestern Oklahoma State.