WARRENSBURG - After scoring at least 90 points in three straight games, the Lincoln Blue Tigers cooled off Wednesday night in a 71-55 loss to the Central Missouri Mules.
The defeat ended Lincoln's winning streak at seven and the 55 points is a season low.
Lincoln only trailed once in the first five minutes of the game, leading 12-6 after a Terrance Smith 3-pointer at the 11:24 mark.
Then the Mules scored 10 straight points in a span of two minutes and never trailed again.
Lincoln got back within one twice and were within three with 1:31 left in the first half after a Smith dunk, but UCM closed the half with 3-pointers by James Byrd and Matt Wilkinson to lead 34-25 at halftime.
Wilkinson added another 3-pointer at the 16:33 mark of the second half to make it 43-31 and Lincoln never cut the deficit to single digits again.
The largest lead for the Mules (10-6, 3-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) came after a Byrd jumper with 7:01 remaining, making the score 63-39.
Smith and Jonell Burton scored in double figures for Lincoln with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Burton also led the Blue Tigers with seven rebounds.
Lincoln finished 18-of-58 (31 percent) shooting, including 6-of-24 (25 percent) from 3-point range.
Wilkinson led the Mules with 15 points.
Lincoln (11-4, 4-2 MIAA) has Southwest Baptist next. The Blue Tigers and Bearcats will tip off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Bolivar.