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The Lincoln College Men’ Basketball team came
up just short in a thrilling over-time loss to the visiting team
from Olivet-Nazarene University (NAIA).
The Lynx and ONU Tigers traded leads throughout the first half
with the Tigers taking a slim 39-37 lead into halftime. Olivet
was able to extend the margin to as many as 13 points in the
second half, going up 56-43 with 14 minutes left to play.
Lincoln then turned up their defensive pressure and began to
chip away at the Tiger lead. The increased effort paid off as LC
was able to tie the score at 71-71 with 4:49 to go. Olivet then
went back on the offensive to go on a 9-to-3 run putting the
Tigers up 80-74. However, a three-pointer by Lincoln’s Deandre
Freeman (Chicago) followed by a bucket from Trayvon Tyler
(Rockford) off a turnover cut the lead one. ONU missed their
next shot which quickly led to a Tyler three-pointer to put LC
up 82-80. The Lynx were unable to hold off the Tigers in the
remaining 38 seconds and allowed a basket to tie the score at
82-82 which forced overtime.
In the overtime period, Lincoln went up by four points, but were
unable to extend their lead and eventually let ONU cut their
advantage to just one point (89-88) with 52 seconds remaining.
After a pair of missed free-throws by LC, the Tigers made the
Lynx pay by hitting a bucket with just 5 ticks left to seal the
90-89 win.
Lincoln Coach Pat Lepper said, “It was a tough loss, but our
guys really battled hard the whole way.” Lepper pointed to LC’s
inconsistency at the free-throw line as a decisive factor. “We
went 14-for-32 at the line compared to Olivet going 28-for-32,”
he said. “That’s a big reason as to why were in such a tight
situation to begin with.”
Lincoln (2-2) will look to shake off the loss on Saturday when
they will host Missouri Valley College at 3:00 PM.
[Mark Tippett
Lincoln College
Sports Information]
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