The Lincoln men's basketball team is used to putting up big numbers on the scoreboard. Now, the Blue Tigers are getting the hang of defense as well.
Lincoln held Lindenwood scoreless for a five-minute stretch in the first half Tuesday night, stretching a one-point lead into a 13-point advantage.
That 12-0 run proved crucial as Lincoln never led by more than 14 until there was about five minutes remaining in what ended up being a 79-64 win against the Lions at Jason Gym.
It's the second time in four days the Blue Tigers held the Lions to 64 points, about nine less than what Lincoln (14-11, 8-8 MIAA) gives up on average this season.
The win was Lincoln's sixth in the past seven games, moving the Blue Tigers up to sixth in the MIAA standings with three games remaining.
"I thought our defense has been outstanding in both of these games," Lincoln coach John Moseley said. "Really in many of the games during the six out of seven. It's been really good defensively to see the guys' effort and intensity."
Five different players scored during Lincoln's 12-0 run in the first half.
Marquise Williams got it started with an inside basket. Terrence Williams knocked down a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer from the corner for a 19-11 lead. After a Calvin Chambers free throw, Alexander Nailes and Amariontez Ivoy each added a layup.
Ivory scored a game-high 21 points, Chambers scored 12, Smith 11 and John Burton 10.
"I really felt that this team would be better in February," Moseley said. "These guys have been playing really well. Offensively, we have enough guys that can score the ball."
Chambers scored 10 of his points at the free-throw line, which had plenty of action Tuesday because of 49 total fouls called.
Lincoln's lead held steady for the rest of the first half as the Blue Tigers took a 35-22 lead at halftime.
Lindenwood (14-11, 6-10) cut it to seven twice before an 8-0 Lincoln run in a two-minute span helped seal the victory.
"They are accepting the scouting a little bit more," Moseley said of the team's defense. "They are more trusting of what it is we tell them what the opponents are going to do and they are doing a great job of just defending guys."
Grant Olsson drained a 3 for a 60-47 lead with 6:12 left and Burton added his third 3-pointer of the game with 5:07 left.
Lincoln will be tested against two of the top three teams in the conference in its final three games of the regular season.
The Blue Tigers will host Central Missouri (19-5, 11-4) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and will conclude the regular season against sixth-ranked Northwest Missouri (21-2, 13-2) on Feb. 24 at Jason Gym.
"We control what happens to us," Moseley said. "If we want a home game in the postseason, it's on nobody but us to give us that opportunity."