Lincoln men down Central Missouri in OT

Cameron Potts of Lincoln tries to drive around Matt Wilkinson of Central Missouri during Saturday afternoon's game at Jason Gym.
Cameron Potts of Lincoln tries to drive around Matt Wilkinson of Central Missouri during Saturday afternoon's game at Jason Gym.

The final minute of regulation was so frantic, it was only fitting for Saturday's game to extend into overtime.

The Central Missouri Mules barely led for three minutes all game, but they had the momentum at the end of regulation and the first few possessions of overtime. However, they couldn't get anything to get right in the final minute of the game.

The Lincoln men got a clutch 3-pointer from Marcel Burton and Cameron Potts scored the go-ahead putback with 40 seconds remaining. The Blue Tigers added a pair of free throws to seal an 88-84 victory against the Mules in Jason Gym.

"I told the guys in September, and I just reminded them again, that the number of games in the MIAA that are going to come down to five points or less is going to be astronomical," Lincoln coach John Moseley said. "It was good to get out on the right side of that."

Lincoln led for more than 35 minutes, but the Blue Tigers' 12-point first-half lead was gone by the midway point of the second half.

"We never could get comfortable," Moseley said. "Credit to their kids and their coaches. They just kept coming at us. It seemed like every time we made a push, they would make one right back."

The Blue Tigers worked the ball inside often in the early going. Lincoln outscored Central Missouri 36-18 in the paint, and Jordan Notch had 10 points in the first half for the Blue Tigers.

The Mules were more comfortable from 3-point range. After falling behind 28-16 with 6:40 to play in the first half, Central Missouri made 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the next three minutes to close Lincoln's lead to 33-28.

"The thing about the 3-point line is it helps you eliminate big leads quickly if you're able to knock down a few," Moseley said.

Lincoln continued to hold a five-point lead at 37-32 going into halftime.

Central Missouri coach Doug Karlesknit was whistled for a technical foul for being outside the coach's box with 15:47 to play in the second half. Marcel Burton made three straight free throws to push Lincoln's lead to 43-37.

That's when the Mules turned it up offensively. Gaven Pinkley knocked down a 3 at the 13:37 mark, capping a 7-0 run to give Central Missouri its first lead of the game at 44-43.

There would be three more lead changes until Lincoln took the lead back at 52-49 with 9:57 remaining. The Blue Tigers would continue to hold that lead until the final minute of regulation.

Michael Winger drained a 3 in front of the Central Missouri bench to tie the score at 71 with 49 seconds to play. Lincoln answered on the other end, as Lamont Ballard Jr. hit a 3 in front of his own bench and drew a foul with :23.4 remaining.

Ballard Jr. was unable to complete the 3-point play, which would soon prove costly. Central Missouri answered with its 14th 3-pointer of the game, this one from Pinkley, to knot the score again at 74 with 12 seconds left.

Each team committed a traveling violation on its next possession, unable to get off a shot and send the game to overtime.

"We had a loose ball deflection that went in, and if you lose that game, you think back to so many plays that could have gone differently," Moseley said.

Lincoln made just 7-of-12 free throws in overtime, but they held the Mules to 2-of-6 shooting in the extra period. The Blue Tigers are 2-1 in overtime games this season.

"We had some of these go the wrong way early in the season," Moseley said. " You want to play better, you want to see growth in your guys, and I think we're fortunate to be seeing some of that now."

Lincoln used eight players in the game, and six scored in double figures. Ballard Jr. led the way with 18 points, followed by Potts (16), Marcel Burton (15), Notch (14) Jonell Burton (12) and Bansi King (12).

L'Kielynn Taylor accounted for the remaining Lincoln point, but the 6-foot-6 forward led the team with nine rebounds and seven assists.

Pinkley led Central Missouri (6-8, 1-4 MIAA) with 23 points. Hampton added 21 points.

"These two teams were about as evenly matched, from a talent standpoint, as you could possibly get," Moseley said.

Lincoln (6-8, 3-2 MIAA) hosts No. 12 Missouri Southern at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.