HAYS, Kan. - The Lincoln men's basketball team went on a 14-2 run in the first five-plus minutes of the second half, but Fort Hays State took the lead for good a couple minutes later in a 72-63 defeat of the Blue Tigers.
Lincoln led by as many as seven twice in the second half before the Tigers began to take over.
A Ni'Sean Rigmaiden layup with 14:34 left made it 43-36. Then the Tigers went on a 13-2 run to lead 49-45 with 11:50 remaining.
Fort Hays led by as many as 13 (72-59) when Trey O'Neil made a pair of free throws with 1:14 remaining.
Grant Olsson scored a game-high 24 points for Lincoln, which shot 42 percent (21-of-50) for the game. Jonell Burton added 13 points.
Brady Werth had 22 points and eight rebounds to lead Fort Hays (15-9, 9-6 MIAA), which shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55) for the game.
Lincoln (16-8, 9-6 MIAA) will host Lindenwood at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Jason Gym.
III
The Lincoln women's basketball team closed out its road schedule Saturday with a 73-59 loss to the Fort Hays State Tigers.
Lincoln scored the first two points of the game on Alecia Gulledge free throws, but that was the only lead for the Blue Tigers.
Fort Hays, ranked No. 4 in the WBCA Coaches poll, closed the opening quarter on a 6-0 run to lead 22-13. The Tigers' lead was 42-28 by halftime and 53-43 entering the fourth quarter.
Lincoln's deficit got down to eight twice, but the Tigers scored the game's final six points.
Zhanesha Dickerson played all 40 minutes, leading Lincoln with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Kaloni Pryear scored 13 points, Zoi Thompson added 12 and Bre Coleman chipped in 10.
Tatyana Legette and Belle Barbieri each scored 15 points for Fort Hays (23-1, 14-1 MIAA).
Lincoln (10-14, 2-13 MIAA) will host Lindenwood at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Jason Gym to start a four-game homestand.