Lincoln Uses Big Run Late to Defeat FHSU 76-70 in Jefferson City

FHSU Sports Information Department

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State held a 10-point lead with 12 minutes to play, but could not hold off a big run by Lincoln late in a 76-70 loss on a road. The Tigers dropped their second-straight road game in three days, moving to 11-4 overall and 5-4 in the MIAA.

Lincoln, now 10-5 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA, used an 18-4 run from the 12:09 to 6:01 marks of the second half to go from 10 down to four up on Fort Hays State. A long dry spell offensively cost the Tigers in the most crucial time of the game, going without a field goal from the 8:41 mark to just eight seconds remaining in the game. In that span, FHSU scored only four points.

From the 6:00 to 1:00 marks of the second half, Lincoln had only two field goals, but FHSU had only one point in that span with a free-throw. The two field goals allowed the Lincoln lead to grow to seven and the Blue Tigers sealed the game late with free-throws. Lincoln closed the game on a 28-12 run over the final 12 minutes.

Fort Hays State shot the ball very well from 3-point range until late. FHSU went 10-of-23 from beyond the arc as Rob Davis had four and Kenny Enoch had three. The Tigers finished the game at 42.6 percent overall from the field, but free-throw shooting was an issue in the dry spell as the Tigers finished 14-of-21 at the line for the game (66.7 percent).

Davis finished with a team-high 20 points for FHSU and nearly recorded a double-double with a team-high nine rebounds. Dom Samac added 16 points and eight rebounds. With two assists, Craig Nicholson is now tied with Mark Wilson for second on the all-time assist list at FHSU with 556.

Jaylon Smith led Lincoln with 21 points, all on a 7-of-12 performance from beyond the 3-point line. Richie Lewis had 18 points, Anthony Virdure had 15, and Aaron Spudich added 12. Lewis had a team-high seven assists.

Lincoln, with its 10th win of the season, matched its win total in all of the three previous seasons combined. Picked dead last in the preseason coaches’ poll, Lincoln has made the competitive balance in the MIAA even tougher this year.

Fort Hays State, now in fifth place in the conference, looks to make a push at the frontrunners once again with home games against Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma next week.

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