Press Release

December 16, 2003

No. 4 'Cats Hang On, Top Lincoln

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- No. 4 Northwest Missouri State defeated Lincoln University 74-70 Tuesday night at Jason Gymnasium. The Bearcats led by 13 at halftime and by as many as 16 in the second half.

Northwest had to hold off a late Blue Tiger charge to take the four-point victory. The Bearcats moved to 7-0 with the victory.

Northwest got 10 points from Austin Meyer and 10 rebounds from Byron Jackson in the first half. The Bearcats took a 40-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. Northwest finished the first half with five straight points to push its lead to double digits.

Victor James scored six points in a 10-3 spurt for Northwest, pushing the Bearcats' lead to 16, 63-47, midway through the second half. But Lincoln outscored Northwest 15-2 over the next four minutes, behind 10 points from Otis Black. The outburst pulled the Blue Tigers back within three points, 65-62.

Lincoln got a pair of free throws from D.J. Hogue with 49 seconds remaining in the game. The two charity tosses made the score 80-78. But that's as close as the Blue Tigers would get. Northwest converted four of six from the free-throw line over the final 46 seconds to hold on for the victory.

Victor James tallied a career-high 16 pints to lead Northwest. Meyer tallied 15 points, while Jackson scored 11 and tallied 16 rebounds. Hogue tallied 21 to lead Lincoln, which dropped to 2-9 with the loss.