JEFFERSON CITY – The 21st ranked Missouri Southern men’s basketball team fell in an early hole and couldn’t climb out as the Lions dropped a 76-68 decision at Lincoln today inside Jason Gymnasium.
Southern (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) was led in scoring by Stan Scott as the senior scored 16 points and added 11 rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench. Cam Martin added 13 points and eight boards, while Christian Bundy and Winston Dessesow scored 11 points each.
Lincoln (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) had four score in double-figures, led by 17 points from Sai Witt.
The Blue Tigers jumped out to an 11-3 lead and led 17-6 after a three with 14:16 to go in the first half. The Lincoln lead was 14 (22-8) with 10:24 on the clock when the Lions started to get hot from the field.
A layup from Yagizhan Selcuk cut the lead to five (27-22) with 5:41 to go and a pair of free throws from Scott made the deficit three (27-24) with just under three on the clock. A layup from RJ Smith the next trip down made the score 27-26 and despite a late Lincoln three, the Lions closed the first half on a 20-11 run to trail 33-28 at the break.
A three from Kyle Younge three minutes into the second half got the Lions within three (41-38), but Lincoln went on a 15-5 run to lead 56-43 with 11:29 to go. The Blue Tiger lead was 15 (62-47) with eight minutes to go, but the Lions went on a 15-4 run of their own to get within five (67-62) after a three-point play from Martin with 3:21 to go.
That would be as close as the Lions would get, however, as Lincoln kept its foot on the gas and went 4-of-5 down the stretch from the free-throw line.
The Lions out rebounded the Blue Tigers 47-37, including 15-8 on the offensive boards.
Southern will be back in action on December 3 when the Lions come home to play host to Northeastern State at 7:30 pm inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
