The Lincoln men’s basketball team will face its first of two tough tests this week when it hosts the Missouri Western Griffons tonight at Jason Gym.
The Blue Tigers are set to welcome two nationally-ranked foes this week, starting with a 7:30 p.m. contest today against the No. 22 Griffons before a matchup Saturday against the conference-leading and 21st-ranked Northwest Missouri Bearcats.
Lincoln (11-6, 6-5 MIAA) split its two games last week, dropping a 67-62 decision at Rogers State on Thursday before beating Northeastern State in a 63-49 final Saturday, and currently sits in sixth place in the conference standings.
Missouri Western (14-3, 8-3) has won six games in a row, including wins last week at home against Newman (97-58) and Central Oklahoma (57-56), and is in a three-way tie for second in the conference standings.
The Griffons enter with the second-best scoring offense in the MIAA so far this year at 77.7 points per game, including five 90-plus point outputs this season, and rank sixth in scoring defense at 68.2 points allowed per game.
The Blue Tigers are fifth in scoring defense (66.2) and 11th in scoring offense (72.2). Lincoln has seen its offensive numbers dip in recent games, though, averaging just 65.8 points per contest in the last five times out.
Four players average double figures in scoring for Missouri Western, led by senior 6-foot-6 wing JaRon Thames at 16.2 points per game. Junior guard Zion Swader (6-0) is next at 12.9, junior wing Julius Dixon (6-7) has added 12.8 and junior wing Taye Fields (6-4) has chipped in 11.5 points per game while leading the team in rebounding at 9.4 per contest.
III
Starting out the MIAA doubleheader tonight at Jason Gym is the Lincoln women’s basketball team hosting the Missouri Western Griffons.
Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Jason Gym.
The Blue Tigers (6-11, 2-9) dropped both of their games last week, losing 61-54 at Rogers State on Thursday and 67-54 at Northeastern State on Saturday.
Missouri Western (13-4, 8-3) has won three games in a row, including wins against Newman (108-45) and Central Oklahoma (73-49) last week.
The Griffons enter with the best scoring offense in the conference at 78.2 points per game and the second-best scoring defense, allowing only 57.4 points per contest. Lincoln has scored 65.8 (ninth) per game so far this year while giving up 71.1 (12th).
Missouri Western bolsters a balanced scoring distribution with only one player averaging double figures -- Connie Clark (5-foot-10 senior forward) at 12.0 per game. Senior guard Brionna Budgetts (5-8) is next at 9.6 points per game, freshman forward Tiani Ellison (6-1) is right behind at 9.3 and sophomore guard Jayme Jackson (5-9) has added 8.8 per game.
The Blue Tigers are 5-44 all-time against Griffons and have not won since a 73-62 victory Feb. 22, 2018, at Jason Gym.