PITTSBURG, Kan. - The Lincoln men's and women's basketball teams are still searching for their first wins in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association play.
The Blue Tigers dropped a conference doubleheader Saturday, with the women falling to Pittsburg State 69-47 and the men losing 77-66.
The Lincoln women briefly held the lead after their first basket of the game, a 3-pointer from Citlali Lopez two minutes in. Neither team scored for the next two minutes, but Brenlee McPherson's layup at the 5:34 mark gave the Gorillas the lead for good.
Pittsburg State led 18-5 after one quarter and 39-20 at halftime. Lincoln scored 25 points in the third quarter to trim its deficit to 57-45, but the Blue Tigers were held to two points during the final 10 minutes.
Bre Coleman led Lincoln (3-6, 0-2 MIAA) with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, adding a team-high three steals. Tempary Gunter (Tuscumbia High School) came off the bench to finish with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
McPherson led Pittsburg State (8-2, 2-2 MIAA) with 18 points.
Unfortunately for the Lincoln men, there was only one lead change in their game.
Maurice Mason, who made his season debut earlier in the week, knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Blue Tigers the early lead for the game's first points. John Burton extended the lead to six points at 17-11 midway through the first half with another 3-pointer.
Pittsburg State, led by former Missouri coach Kim Anderson, battled back and tied the game on three occasions. Jaxon Holden's three with 2:50 left in the half put the Gorillas ahead 28-25.
Pittsburg State pushed its lead to 36-30 at halftime and stretched it to double digits three minutes into the second half. The Gorillas led by as many as 21 points (58-37) with 9:57 to play.
Marquise Williams was one rebound shy of a double-double by halftime, leading Lincoln (5-5, 0-2 MIAA) with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Mason added 12 points, four assists and three steals. Terrance Smith and Calvin Chambers each scored nine points off the bench.
Donovan Franklin was one of four players for Pittsburg State (6-5, 1-3 MIAA) to score in double figures, leading the way with 22 points. Xavier Adams added a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Lincoln will hold its MIAA home opener Saturday at Jason Gym against Emporia State. The women's game begins at 1:30 p.m., followed by the men's contest at 3:30 p.m.