complete game notes in .pdf format
Storyline
Lindenwood looks to start its second half of the conference schedule strong with a pair of home games this week. The Lions host Culver-Stockton on Thursday night followed by a Saturday contest against Baker with a rare weekend night tip-off time.
The Lions are in seventh place in the HAAC at the halfway mark of the conference season. The good news though is that the team is just two games out of second place. Lindenwood also has a very favorable schedule down the stretch, with six home games, and only two road games against programs ahead of it in the conference standings.
If Lindenwood is going to make a run in the next month, it must sweep the two Wildcats on its schedule this week. Culver-Stockton and Baker are in danger of not making the conference tournament, and the Lions easily defeated both teams on the road earlier this season.
Last Week's Results
Lindenwood dropped its fourth straight road contest last week with a 70-59 setback against Benedictine. The game was tied with under nine minutes remaining but the Ravens pulled away after back-to-back three-pointers.
Benedictine shot over 50 percent while the Lions were held under 40 percent shooting from the field. Richard Rose had a team-high 15 points, and Joey Parker and David King added 10 apiece.
Saturday, Lindenwood never trailed in a 72-62 win over William Jewell. The Lions dominated the boards 41-22 and held the HAAC's top rebounder to just four rebounds.
The Lions' post players Toriano Adams and Brett Thompson combined for 40 points and 21 rebounds. Adams had 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Thompson had season-bests of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Alfred Nelson chipped in with 11 points.
Winning At Home
In the previous six seasons, Lindenwood has been just barely over .500 on its home court with a 44-42 record (.512). The Lions have appeared to change that this season as the team has a 6-1 record at the Hyland Performance Arena.
Lindenwood is outscoring its opponents by nearly nine points a game at home, which includes two victories over nationally-ranked teams. The Lions are averaging 75.0 points and shooting 46.9 percent from the field at home, both numbers that are significantly better than their season averages.
Rebounding Battle
Lindenwood enters this week leading the HAAC and ranking 14th in the nation with a +7.7 rebounding margin. In conference play, the Lions have won the rebounding battle seven times and have outrebounded HAAC foes by nearly eight boards a game.
The team is 10-2 this year when it outrebounds the other team, and 3-5 when it loses the battle on the boards.
On paper, the Lions should have a huge edge on the boards this week. Culver-Stockton and Baker are at the bottom of the HAAC in rebounding and Lindenwood outrebounded the two by 16 and 14 rebounds, respectively, earlier this year.
Lions "D"
Lindenwood has one of the top defenses in the HAAC in 2009-10. The Lions are allowing 64.7 points a game, which ranks 18th in the nation.
In the last 15 games, Lindenwood has not allowed over 70 points. Five times, the Lions have held an opponent under 60, and twice, under the 50 mark.
Lindenwood "O"
Lindenwood is 9-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points, and it is 7-0 when shooting 45 percent or better from the field.
Free Throw Shooting
Free throw attempts continue to predict whether the Lions win or loss. Lindenwood is 13-0 when shooting 21 or more free throws and 0-7 when shooting 20 or less.
1,000 Point Scorer
Richard Rose became the latest member of Lindenwood's 1,000 point club last week. He reached the milestone while scoring 15 points against Benedictine and he currently has 1,016 career points.
Rose enters the week ranked eighth in the HAAC with 15.1 points a game and a .829 free throw percentage. He is second in the conference with 97 made free throws.
Post Position
Toriano Adams and Brett Thompson showed their full potential in the win over William Jewell as both players collected double-doubles. The duo recorded over half of Lindenwood's points and rebounds, and nearly outrebounded the opposing team by themselves.
Since both players have been in the lineup, the pair is averaging 21.6 points and 14.6 rebounds a game.
Dishing The Ball
Over the last three games, Joey Parker is averaging 7.0 assists a game and he has a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
On the season, his 4.2 assists a game ranks second in the HAAC and 32nd in the NAIA.
Earlier This Season
The Lions opened conference play with an 84-53 victory at Culver-Stockton. Lindenwood shot 57.7 percent for the game, including making 12-of-20 from three-point range.
Brandon Kunkel and Richard Rose combined to hit seven-of-nine three-pointers. Kunkel finished with a team-high 15 points and Rose had 13. Alfred Nelson added 11 points, and Toriano Adams had 10 points and tied Tyler Donaldson with eight rebounds.
Lindenwood defeated Baker by a 70-57 margin in Baldwin City, Kan. The Lions took advantage of their size by going to the free throw line 36 times. Lindenwood made 25 free throws, 15 more than Baker made in the game.
Rose and Kunkel again led the team in scoring. Rose had 15 points, two more than Kunkel. All seven other Lindenwood players who appeared in the contest scored at least two points. Jerome Douglas led the team with eight rebounds.
Scouting Culver-Stockton
Culver-Stockton enters Thursday's contest on a three-game losing streak. The Wildcats are 2-8 in HAAC play but have played teams close, with six of the games being decided by 10 points or less. The team also has an unusual stat as it is 0-5 at home in HAAC play while 2-3 on the road.
The Wildcats are last in the HAAC in scoring with 63.0 points a game, but lead the conference with 7.6 three-pointers made a game. Defensively, Culver-Stockton is giving up 73.6 points a night.
Phil Peugh leads the team with 16.6 points and 5.4 rebounds a game, and is also the team leader in three-pointers, assists, and steals. Jason Gillespie and Jordan Ayers have both hit over 30 three-pointers on the season.
Head coach of the Wildcats is John Windham. He is 9-41 in two years at the school.
Scouting Baker
Baker is still searching for its first HAAC win of the season. After opening the year, 6-2, the squad has won just once in the last 11 games.
Baker is 10th in the HAAC in scoring offense and scoring defense, as it scores 67.5 points a game and allows 74.3 points a night. One of the team's strengths is free throw shooting where it is making 72.3 percent of its attempts.
Andre Strozier leads the team with 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds a game. Malcome Greer is second by averaging 12.5 points and 6.0 boards.
Head coach of Baker is Rick Weaver, who is in his 25th season at the school. Weaver has won 353 games at the school and has been a three-time HAAC Coach of the Year.
Up Next
Lindenwood has two crucial games next week when it travels to Evangel on Feb. 4 and hosts Benedictine on Feb. 6.
