ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Lincoln men's basketball team bounced back from Thursday night's loss at Northwest Missouri State for an 81-72 victory Saturday afternoon at Missouri Western.
Lincoln only trailed when Lavon Hightower knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 3-2.
Lincoln took a 39-30 lead at halftime, but Missouri Western came back to get within 47-46 with 14:29 left.
The lead was back to 10 in just three minutes of play as Maurice Mason drained a 3 with 1:33 remaining in the game.
Terrence Smith was one of four Blue tigers to score in double figures with a game-high 26 points. Mason scored 17, John Burton added 15 and Calvin Chambers had 13.
Chambers also led Lincoln with seven assists. Burton had eight rebounds to lead the Blue Tigers.
Hightower was the top scorer for the Griffons as he finished with 24 points.
Lincoln (12-11, 6-8 MIAA) plays next Saturday at Lindenwood (14-9, 6-8).
In the women's game, Missouri Western closed out the final five minutes on a 12-3 run to defeat Lincoln 57-44 for the Blue Tigers' 15th straight loss.
The Blue Tigers' only lead came after the first basket of the game, but they never trailed by double digits until there was 2:55 left in the game.
Lajanea Kimbrough led Lincoln with 12 points. Citlali Lopez and Faith Brintle each added seven points. Lopez and Kimbrough each grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
Savannah Lentz led a trio of Griffons in double figures with 13 points. Cera Ledbetter and Dossou Ndiaye scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Lincoln (3-19, 0-14 MIAA) plays next Saturday at Lindenwood (11-11, 4-10).