BOLIVAR - The Lincoln men's basketball team nearly led from start to finish Saturday afternoon in an 89-70 win against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats.
The second and final lead change of the game came when Ni'Sean Rigmaiden knocked down a jumper to make it 6-5 just a few minutes into the game.
The Blue Tigers went on a 15-5 run in the first five minutes thanks to 3-pointers from Amariontez Ivory, Jonell Burton and Rigmaiden.
The margin was 12 (35-23) with about six minutes left in the first half after another Rigmaiden 3-pointer.
Lincoln's largest lead of the first half was the halftime score as John Burton closed the half with a 3-pointer for a 48-33 advantage.
The margin kept growing in the second half. A Grant Olsson layup made it 69-44 about midway through the half and a John Burton 3 made it 74-44 with about nine minutes remaining.
Rigmaiden scored a game-high 26 points for Lincoln, which improved to 12-4 overall and 5-2 in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Olsson had 18 points and five rebounds, while Jonell Burton accounted for 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Lincoln made 56.1 percent of its shots, including going 13-of-25 from 3-point range. Ivory and John Burton each scored nine points on three 3-pointers.
Karim Moulion led Southwest Baptist (9-8, 3-5 MIAA) with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Lincoln, which has won eight of its last nine games, will host Northeastern State at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Jason Gym.