WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 16, 2017)-- Lincoln rallied back from a 10-point deficit with just over three minutes to play to force overtime and defeat Central Missouri 70-63 on Thursday night at the Multi. With the loss, the Mules have their three-game winning streak end as they drop to 17-7 overall and 11-5 in MIAA play.
The Mules led 51-41 with 3:06 to play in regulation after
Marquiez Lawrence hit a layup, but the Blue Tigers (15-11, 8-9 MIAA) outscored the Mules 16-6 in regulation and 13-6 in OT to get the win.
O'Shai Clark hit a layup to pull Lincoln within eight with 2:46 to play, but a technical foul was called on the Blue Tigers bench immediately after.
Spencer Reaves went 1-for-2 at the line to give the Mules a nine-point edge, 52-43, with 2:03 left to play. Anthony Virdue was fouled on the ensuing Lincoln possession, made both free throws, then Richie Lewis scored a layup to cut the UCM's lead to seven, 52-45.
The Mules struggled to score down the stretch, with their final five points coming at the charity strip. Reaves hit two free throws with 1:20 to play, giving UCM a 54-47 advantage, but the Blue Tigers answered back with Maurice Mason hitting a three-pointer with 1:10 on the clock, followed by a jumper from Jaylon Smith.
Jakob Lowrance added a pair free throws to give UCM a 56-53 tilt with 32 seconds on the clock, while
Kyle Wolf made one of two free throws.
In overtime, Lincoln came out hitting a three with 4:08 on the clock to take their first lead of the game since the 16:02 mark in the first half when they led 6-5. The Mules scored a pair of free throws to cut Lincoln's lead to 60-59. The Blue Tigers then went on a 5-0 run to push their lead to 64-59. Dashuan Rice scored the Mules final four points, both on layups, but it was not enough as Lincoln hit 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
The Mules 10-point lead in the second half was their largest of the game. The Mules scored their first field goal of the second half with 17:22 to play off a Richardson layup, giving UCM a 31-25 lead. Lincoln scored a layup 23 second later as Virdure penetrated the lane. The Blue Tigers cut their deficit to two, 31-29, with Kevin Bohlen adding a layup, but Reaves answered with a three giving UCM the 34-29 advantage. They traded shots until the 7:14 mark when UCM had a 43-41 lead and went on an 8-0 run to go up 10.
The game was tight the whole first half, with the Mules leading much of the half. Lincoln lead 6-5 with 16:02 to play, but the Mules retook the lead with Reaves hitting a three pointer to make it an 8-6 lead for UCM. The Mules stretched their lead to as much as eight in the first half.
Spencer Reaves led the Mules in scoring with 23 points and tied a career-high in rebounds with seven, also to lead UCM. He finished the game 7-of-13 from the field, and 4-of-6 from the three-point line.
Kyle Wolf added 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting. The Mules shot 40 percent from the field going 22-of-55. They were 13-of-21 for 62 percent from the free throw line, and went 6-of-22 from behind the arc to finish at 27 percent.
Smith led Lincoln with a game-high 27 points and nine rebounds, while Virdue added 20 and Mason chipped in 10. Lincoln was 21-of-54 from the field for 39 percent and was 24-of-29 at the free throw line for 83 percent.
The Mules will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 18, as they host Lindenwood. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. in the Multi.
