HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State made a pair of free throws with :04 left in overtime to beat the Lincoln men's basketball team 74-72 in Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association play on Thursday.
Fort Hays State took control in the early going, leading by as many as eight points at 14-6 eight minutes into the game. Lincoln answered with a 13-4 to take a 1-point lead.
Fort Hays State went into halftime ahead 28-23.
Lincoln took back the lead just 1:33 into the second half and held its lead until 10 minutes remained. Fort Hays State led 56-48 with 6:58 to play until Richie Lewis made a pair of free throws with 3:16 left in the second half, giving the Blue Tigers a 59-58 edge.
After a turnover by Lincoln with less than 30 seconds in regulation, Jaquan Smith made 1-of-2 free throws for Fort Hays State to tie the game at 61. Anthony Virdure missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
Fort Hays State lead by as many as five points in the extra period, but that was erased with a 9-2 run by Lincoln, which gave the Blue Tigers a 72-70 lead.
Another last-minute turnover by Lincoln proved to be costly, this time leading to a pair of free throws by Hadley Gillum with :04 to play, giving Fort Hays State at 74-72 lead.
Lincoln was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer.
Virdure led the Blue Tigers with 19 points and Jaylon Smith added 16 points. Lewis and Maurice Mason each had nine points.
Lincoln (13-7, 6-5 MIAA) will play at 4 p.m. Saturday at Nebraska-Kearney.
III
The Lincoln women's basketball team grabbed the lead on the opening possession of the game, but its lead lasted less than a minute. Fort Hays State took the lead with 15 unanswered points en route to a 81-68 win against the Blue Tigers.
After an Erica Gibbons jumper to start the game, Lincoln didn't score again until the 3:36 mark of the first quarter with a pair of free throws made by Asia McCaskill.
Lincoln trailed 22-8 after one quarter and fell further behind, entering the second half down 40-23.
The Blue Tigers fell behind by as many as 21 points in the third quarter and cut the deficit to 11 points in the final minute.
Three players scored in double figures for Lincoln, led by Gibbons with 17 points. Hunter Yoakum added 15 points and Khadijah Ellison finished with 14 points.
Lincoln (3-15, 2-9 MIAA) plays at 2 p.m. Saturday at Nebraska-Kearney.