MARYVILLE - Northwest Missouri State started Thursday's game against Lincoln on a 19-3 run and the Blue Tigers never recovered in an 86-61 win for the Bearcats.
Northwest (16-5, 13-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) shot 5-of-9, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and 7-of-8 at the free-throw line during the first 7:34 of the game to take a 19-3 lead.
The lead stayed around the 16-point mark for the rest of the first half as the Bearcats led 36-20 at halftime.
The Blue Tigers cut the deficit to 12 with an O'Shai Clark jumper at the 16:12 mark of the second half, but Northwest eventually got its lead to 25 with 4:05 remaining.
Lincoln (12-10, 8-8 MIAA) has fallen to seventh in the MIAA with three straight losses.
Anthony Virdure led Lincoln with 21 points, making 10-of-12 at the free-throw line. He also led with six rebounds and four assists.
Jaylon Smith had 16 points and three steals.
Conner Crooke, Justin Pitts and Zach Schneider each scored 18 for Northwest.
Chris-Ebou Ndow added 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
The Bearcats shot 56 percent from the field, including 9-of-18 from 3-point range.
Lincoln shot less than 22 percent in the first half and 33 percent overall.
The Blue Tigers shot 24-of-28 at the free throw line.
Lincoln will close out the four-game road trip Saturday at Missouri Western (6-15, 4-11 MIAA). Game time is set for 5 p.m.