LCU falls to hot shooting of NIU

[January 14, 2013]  The Lincoln Christian University men's basketball team returned to the court Saturday afternoon at Gaston Arena in the Laughlin Center, hosting NCCAA II No. 5-ranked Northland International University. Despite a late run at the end of the game, LCU (6-10) could not contain NIU's (10-5) hot shooting, as NIU won 88-77.

NIU came out shooting, as they quickly grabbed a double-digit lead and held on to it for the majority of the game. With five minutes to go in the second half and LCU down by 26 points, the Red Lions made a run of their own as they slowly began chipping away at the deficit. With a minute and a half left, they cut NIU's lead down to 10 points but could not get any further as NIU sharpened up and controlled the game the rest of the way.

The game came down to field-goal shooting percentage, and NIU was too much for LCU to handle. NIU came out and shot 57 percent from the floor in the first half, then followed up by shooting 64 percent from the floor in the second half, ending the game shooting 60 percent overall. Other than the field-goal percentage, LCU controlled the game in many other ways as they won the rebounding, free-throw percentage and turnover battles.

LCU was led in scoring by junior forward Raymond Shegogg (Sun River Terrace, Lincoln College) as Shegogg put up 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Freshman guard Anthony Rush (Peoria, Illinois Central College) added 10 points of his own on 5-of-10 shooting while also pulling down five rebounds. NIU was led in scoring by their junior point guard, Micah Baines (Wilson, N.C.), as he had 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, along with five assists. Sophomore forward Kyle Gardner (Gilbert, Ariz.), chipped in with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

LCU will return to the court on Tuesday, when they travel to Florissant, Mo., to take on St. Louis Christian College at 7 p.m. In the first game of the season between these two teams, back in December, LCU beat SLCC 87-44.

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LCU's School of Undergraduate Studies is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, Division II. Founded in Lincoln in 1944, Lincoln Christian University's three schools -- the School of Undergraduate Studies, the Hargrove School of Adult & Graduate Studies, and the Seminary -- share a mission to nurture and equip Christians with a biblical worldview to serve and lead in the church and the world. For more information about the Red Lions, visit LincolnChristian.edu/athletics.

[Text from file received from Lincoln Christian University]

LCU men's basketball