DALLAS BAPTIST DEFEATS LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, 93-79

   A promising beginning to the last third of the Blue Tigers season began by playing two of the top three teams in the Heartland Conference to a pair of losses totaling seven points at the end of January.  Following the close home losses, the Blue Tigers appeared ready to make a charge at a top four position and a spot in their first Heartland Conference Postseason Tournament. 

   The final game of the opening half of conference play, a victory over Dallas Baptist (Jan. 29) was followed with a win to start the second half of the conference slate on Feb. 2 against Montana State University-Billings.  A heartbreaking one-point loss (68-67) in non-conference (South Central Region) play on Feb. 3 to Montana State University-Billings further highlighted the roller coaster season Lincoln University has experienced.

   Lincoln University started off a week long road trip on the wrong side of a disappointing 93-79 loss to Dallas Baptist on Feb. 6 in Heartland Conference action at the Burg Center in Dallas, Texas. The 93 points scored by the Patriots is a season-high.   

   Dallas Baptist improves to 9-12 overall and 5-4 (4th) in the Heartland Conference.  Lincoln University slides to 5-15 and 2-6 (t-6th) in Heartland Conference play. 

   The Patriots took their largest advantage of the first half 34-22 with 9:23 to play.  Hot-shooting Dallas Baptist sank 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from the field in the first half on their way to a 47-39 halftime lead.    

   Vandder Hughes dropped in two free throws at the 8:34 mark to pull Lincoln University within four points, 62-58.  The Patriots then blew the game wide open using a 22-8 blast over the next 5:38 to take their biggest advantage of the game 84-66.  The Blue Tigers fought to the end as they cut the margin of defeat to 13 points with a 13-9 run in the remaining 2:35.  The Patriots temperature rose in the second half as they buried 61.5 percent (16-of-26) of their attempts to claim a 93-79 victory. 

   James Edwards scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half.  In the final half Nick Michels dropped in 16 of his game-high 26 points.

   The 26 points scored by Michels was followed by Eddie Gloviak (20), Dwight Coleman (17) and Brandon Wash (14).  Wash also had a game-high 11 rebounds.

   Edwards 19 points led the Blue Tigers with Mata adding 18, all in the first half.  Hughes scored a career-high 13 points. 

   For the third time in the last four games, the Blue Tigers committed 20 or more turnovers.  The Patriots used 21 turnovers by the Blue Tigers to generate 26 points. 

   Lincoln University was whistled for 33 fouls, a team-high this season.  Dallas Baptist was called for 30 fouls.  There were 77 free-throws attempted in the game; Lincoln University (38) and Dallas Baptist (39). 

   Dallas Baptist out-rebounded Lincoln University 34-28. 

   The Blue Tigers shot higher than 45 percent from the field for only the fourth time this season.  Lincoln University shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53) for the game.  The Blue Tigers allowed Dallas Baptist to make 57.4 percent (31-of-54) of their attempts on the night.  It was the fifth time this season a Blue Tiger opponent has hit greater than 50.8 percent from the field. 

   The Patriots became the first team in the 2006-07 season to knock down more than 45 percent of their 3-point attempts against the Blue Tigers.  Dallas Baptist netted 45.5 percent (5-of-11) of their 3-point tries.

   Dallas Baptist recorded 24 assists, while Lincoln University was credited with just 8.

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