THE OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 72-77 Lincoln Christian
• Venue: Laughlin Center, Lincoln Christian University
• Attendance: 218
• Record: Sabercats are now 10-11
• Next Game for MBU: Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at Wisconsin Lutheran

THE LEAD

LINCOLN, Ill. -- The Sabercats fought until the end, but could not pull off the upset against NCCAA DI Lincoln Christian tonight.

The Red Lions successfully defended their home floor and swept this season's 2-game series against a well-balanced Sabercats unit - but 12 lead changes in the game proved that MBU made it difficult.

THE STORY

A 10-2 run from the hosts got things started off on the wrong foot for MBU, who played catch-up during a sub-par first half performance.

After the initial Red Lion run, the Sabercats relied on their 3-point shooting to stay in sight of their hosts. Stephen Wilkerson came off the bench to score 6 points from downtown in the first half, but the Sabercats struggled to get any real momentum. Lincoln procured a 10-point lead 10 minutes into the game, and held on to enter the locker room ahead, 36-29.

Wilkerson's 6 points was good enough to lead the 9 MBU players that scored points in the first half. 

The second-half showing from MBU was the better of the two, as Maranatha won the higher-scoring half by two points. Matt Gill was the go-to option, as the junior recorded a team-best 11 points through the latter 20 minutes.

The Sabercats stepped their game up, and a veritable brawl ensued. Through the middle stages of the half, the lead changed hands 12 times in 8 minutes.

Then the Red Lions surged, as a 12-0 run gave LCU an 11-point lead with 5 minutes to play. The Sabercats' fight seemed to be at an end until 2 free throws from Jonathan Book made it a 2-point game with 2 minutes on the clock. However, the LCU defense held MBU scoreless while a Nate Parks 3-pointer did the terminal damage to the Sabercats with under a minute left. 

A parting jumper at the horn from Book gave the Sabercats little consolation, as LCU finally got the better of the tooth-and-nail skirmish. 

THE NUMBERS

Gill has scored 10 or more points in the last 3 games.

This was Wilkerson's second game in double digits this season.

The loss to Lincoln was the Sabercats' third loss this season while recording 70 points or more.

The Sabercats coughed the ball up 18 times while the Red Lions had just 9 turnovers.

This was the Sabercats' fifth loss in the last 6 games.

After this result, Maranatha holds a 25-14 advantage in the all-time series.

THE SOUND BITE

"Overall, this was an NAIA scholarship-level school, and we played them right down to the buzzer," said Coach Keith Salscheider after the game. "I am very proud of the guys for their effort, especially in the second half. There are a couple of things we need to work on, but our effort was there, our fight was there, our strategy was there - we just played a good team and got beat. We are excited about where we are headed and we are looking forward to regionals."

THE OUTLOOK

The Sabercats will travel to Wisconsin Lutheran College for a 7 p.m. tipoff Thursday. MBU trails the series, 15-43, and the last time MBU topped WLC was in 2011.

Follow live at mbusabercats.com/composite.