complete game notes in .pdf format
Storyline
Lindenwood resumes HAAC play this Thursday as it starts a crucial part of its schedule. The Lions will have six games in a 12-day span, a stretch which could play a big role in the team's conference championship hopes.
This week, Lindenwood will travel to Missouri Valley on Thursday evening followed a return to the Hyland Performance Arena on Saturday to take on Graceland.
Both Missouri Valley and Graceland were picked near the bottom of the preseason HAAC poll, but are among early season surprises. The Vikings started the year 7-1 and Graceland has already surpassed last year's win total.
Lindenwood enters play this week with seven wins in its last eight games. In those seven victories, the Lions have not allowed over 65 points and are outrebounding their opponents by over 16 rebounds a game.
Last Time Out
Lindenwood went 2-0 last week at the Tabor Classic, defeating the host school and Sterling. In both victories, the Lions had big first halves and strong defensive performances.
Lindenwood opened the new year with a 68-43 victory over Tabor. The Bluejays shot under 30 percent for the game and the Lions had more offensive rebounds than Tabor had defensive boards.
Richard Rose led the Lions with 19 points and Toriano Adams had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Joey Parker was also in double-figure points with 12.
The next afternoon, Lindenwood earned a 75-61 win over Sterling. The victory was sparked by a 27-6 run over the final 9:19 of the first half, and a 10-0 run midway through the second half.
David King had a season-high 19 points and Rose scored 19 for the second straight game. Adams led the squad with 10 rebounds.
First To Ten
Lindenwood was the first HAAC school to reach double-digit wins on the season with a 75-61 victory over Sterling.
Defense Wins Games
Seventy is the magic number for the Lindenwood defense. The team is 8-0 this season when allowing less than that mark, and just 2-3 when allowing 70 or more points.
Over the team's last eight games, it is allowing just 57.3 points a game.
On the season, Lindenwood ranks 20th in the nation in scoring defense, giving up an average of 65.0 points per game. That mark is good for third in the HAAC.
Balancing Act
Lindenwood's offense is second in the HAAC in scoring 74.2 points a game. The Lions are led by Richard Rose, who ranks fifth in the conference in scoring with 17.1 points per outing. Two other Lions average double figures to balance the attack. Toriano Adams is second on the team in scoring with 11.8 points a game, followed by Joey Parker who averages over 10 points a contest. Brandon Kunkel averages just under 10 points per game.
Fit For A King
Junior David King scored a personal-best 19 points in the Lions' win over Sterling. He was nine-of-13 from the field, grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and added an assist as well.
King has played a key role coming off the bench this year. He is tied for the lead in blocked shots with 10 and is the third on the team in rebounding, averaging 3.7 a game.
Distributing The Ball
Joey Parker tallied seven assists in Lindenwood's victory over Sterling, the second time this season he has accomplished that feat. In 13 games, Parker has led the team in assists eight times. He has seven games of four or more and has 50 total on the year, which ranks him in the top 40 in the NAIA.
As a team, the Lions have recorded double-digit assists in every game but two.
Free Throw Shooting
Lindenwood is at its best when its gets to the free throw line often during a game. In the team's ten victories, the Lions are averaging over 29 attempts. In the three losses, it is averaging just 15.3 attempts. The team is 10-0 when going to the free throw 21 times or more in a game.
Rebounding Margin
Over the last eight games, the Lions are outrebounding their opponents by an average margin of 15.3 rebounds per game. On the year, Lindenwood ranks in the top 20 nationally in this statistical category.
Consistent Scoring
Richard Rose has scored in double figures in every game this season but one. He has led Lindenwood in points in nine of the team's 13 contests.
Road Record
Lindenwood will play four of its next six games on the road. The team is 4-2 on the season when playing away from St. Charles, including 2-0 in HAAC play.
The Lions were 6-4 on the road in conference play last year compared to 5-5 at home.
Last Year
Last season, Lindenwood swept both Missouri Valley and Graceland. The victories over the Vikings were hard fought, with both games being decided by five points, including one in overtime. The Lions had a little bit easier time against Graceland, winning by 14 and seven.
In the two games against Missouri Valley, Toriano Adams averaged 15.0 points and 12.0 rebounds a game. Against Graceland, Richard Rose averaged 20.0 points, and Adams collected 23.5 points and 11.0 rebounds a contest.
Scouting Missouri Valley
Missouri Valley owns a record of 9-4 overall. In conference play, the squad is 1-2, defeating Culver-Stockton but falling to William Jewell and Central Methodist.
The Vikings are 10th in the HAAC in scoring at 70.7 points per game, but boast one of the nation's best scoring defenses, allowing 62.9 points per game. The team ranks 16th in the nation in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to an average of 39.4 percent shooting.
Roc Rogers is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 11.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Rouven Haenig is the other inside presence averaging 11.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. Patrick McDermott chips in with 10.2 points per game and shoots 42.9 percent from behind the three-point line.
Missouri Valley is led by Chad Lance, who is in his seventh year at the school.
Scouting Graceland
Graceland, which hosts MidAmerica Nazarene on Thursday, enters the week with a 7-6 overall record. In conference play, the team is 1-2, defeating William Jewell but falling to Evangel and Central Methodist.
The Yellowjackets are eighth in the HAAC in scoring at 71.5 points a game, but are last in scoring defense, allowing 73.6 points a game. The team leads the nation in free throw percentage with a .764 mark.
Jewel Carter is the HAAC's leading scorer with 21.8 points a game, and he has 33 three-pointers and a .915 free throw percentage. Tyler Raasch is also a three-point threat and averages 12.5 points a game. Jake Smith is the top inside player, averaging 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Head coach of Graceland is Jeffrey Hamilton, who is in his second year at the school. He has a career record of 13-30.
HAAC Note
At the start of the week, every HAAC men's basketball team except for one was over .500 for the season.
Up Next
Lindenwood continues a busy month of games next week with three contests, starting with a home game against Avila on Jan. 11. The team then begins a crucial road trip with games against Central Methodist and MidAmerica Nazarene.
