The Lincoln Blue Tigers men's basketball team opened MIAA conference action Wednesday night with 95-79 loss to Fort Hays State.
Fort Hays (7-0 overall, 1-0 MIAA) had six players in double figures, as the Tigers built a 51-39 lead at the half. They extended their lead to 24 points midway through the second half.
Pierre DeClue led the Blue Tigers (2-3, 0-1) with 25 points. Derek Stokes scored 11 points in the first half and finished with 16. Davis Marquez added 10.
Dijon Smith scored 20 points for lead Fort Hays.
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The Lincoln Blue Tigers women's basketball team fell in its conference opener 62-39.
Fort Hays (4-1 overall, 1-0 MIAA) broke the game open in the first half with a 22-6 run before taking a 37-15 lead into halftime.
Lincoln (1-4, 0-1) made just 17-of-57 (30 percent) from the field and got as close as 15 points in the second half.
Vivian Essuon led the Blue Tigers with 21 points, going 10-for-18 from the field. She also pulled down eight rebounds.
Lincoln returns to action Saturday in a men's and women's doubleheader against Southwest Baptist. The women's game starts at 1:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 3:30 p.m.