Box Score
Henderson State improved to 2-0 on the season as the Reddies beat Lincoln 83-78, Saturday, at the Southwest Baptist Classic in Bolivar, Mo.
Melvin Haynes paced the Reddies with 24 points, while
Deoirvay Johnson scored 15 points.
Also in double-figures were
Kevin Kozan with 11 points and
Reggie Murphy adding 10.
In a game that saw 22 lead changes, the Reddies built a 41-36 lead at the half with the help of three 3-point field goals by Kozan.
In the second-half, Haynes dominated the scoring for the Reddies having 21 points in the final 20 minutes.
Lincoln led by as many as five points with eight minutes left, but Haynes scored the next seven points to put the Reddies on top 71-68 with 6:44 to play.
Henderson would never trail again as Haynes and Johnson helped push the lead to 80-74 with 2:58 left to play.
Lincoln would make one last surge and got within a field goal with 17 second remaining with back-to-back buckets by Josh Buie and Clay Crouch.
However, Henderson State made three of its final four free throws to secure the win.
Henderson State shot 40 percent from the field with the Reddies making 26-of-65 attempts, while Lincoln was good on 30-of-63 attempts for 48 percent.
The key was Henderson's shooting at the foul line as the Reddies hit on nearly 70 percent from the charity stripe making 22 of 32 attempts. Lincoln made just 10-of-16 free throws.
The Reddies also dominated the boards, outrebounding Lincoln 48 to 32.
Aaron Harwell led the team with 10 rebounds, while Murphy grabbed 9 boards and
Taylor Smith 8.
