complete game notes in .pdf format
Storyline
Lindenwood ends a two-week layoff on Tuesday evening when it goes on the road for the first time in 2010-11. The Lions will face Missouri Baptist in a crosstown battle. Thursday, the Lions return home for their conference opener versus Culver-Stockton. The busy week then ends on Saturday with a HAAC road game at Baker.
Lindenwood is looking to build on its three-game winning streak. Two trends emerged for the Lions over the last three victories. Lindenwood has stepped up defensively, holding all three opponents to 60 or less points. Offensively, the Lions have found their outside touch and averaged 11.0 three-pointers a game.
This week's games are also a tune-up before a crucial part of the schedule when the Lions have four games, including two versus ranked foes, in a 10-day span.
Last Time Out
Lindenwood finished its season opening five-game homestand with wins over Maryville, Concordia Seminary, and Mid-Continent.
The Lions defeated Maryville by a 76-53 score. A late 9-0 run in the first half helped Lindenwood build a double-digit lead and it pulled away in the second half. Kramer Soderberg had 19 points and Michael Boos added 17.
Lindenwood jumped out to a quick 20-2 lead against Concordia Seminary and got to play its reserves for much of the 68-53 win. Richard Rose had 14 points, Alex Bazzell scored 11, and Brandon Kunkel added 10.
Lindenwood defeated Mid-Continent 77-60 after shooting over 70 percent in the second half. Rose had seven three-pointers and 25 points. Alfred Nelson and Soderberg each scored 14.
Defense Wins Titles
Lindenwood is allowing 64.8 points a game this season, including 55.3 points against unranked opponents. Opponents are shooting just over 40 percent against the Lions, and Lindenwood has held the last two opponents under 40 percent.
Last season, Lindenwood was third in the NAIA by allowing 61.0 points a game. The Lions did not allow a HAAC school to score over 70 points.
Three-Point Shooting
After struggling from three-point range during the Texas Roadhouse Classic, Lindenwood has heated up from outside the last three games. The Lions are averaging 11.0 three-pointers a game in that span, and are shooting 47.8 percent from beyond the arc.
On the season, Lindenwood is 11th in the NAIA by making over 40 percent of its three-pointers. The Lions top three-point threats, Richard Rose, Kramer Soderberg, and Michael Boos, have combined to make 29 three-pointers and are shooting 53.7 percent from long distance.
Rose leads the team with 14 three-pointers, and he is shooting 53.8 percent. Boos has made nine and is hitting 56.3 percent of his shots. Soderberg has made half of his 12 attempts.
Free Throw Shooting
Lindenwood also ranks in the top 15 nationally in free throw percentage with a 72.6 percentage.
The duo of Kramer Soderberg and Richard Rose have been nearly perfect from the charity stripe. Soderberg is ninth in the NAIA by making 28 of 31 free throws. Rose is a perfect 12 of 12 on the season.
Defensive Wall
One reason the Lions are holding opponents to just 40.2 percent shooting is that they are averaging over four blocks a game. Three different Lions are averaging 1.0 block a game or better. Alfred Nelson leads the team with six, and Brett Thompson and David King each have five.
Dishing Out Assists
After averaging 27.5 points over the first two games of the season, Kramer Soderberg has gotten his teammates more involved in the last three games. He is averaging six assists a game in that span and is averaging one assists every 3.9 minutes. For the season, he is averaging nearly five assists a game and ranks second in the HAAC in that category.
Alex Bazzell is second on the team, averaging 3.0 assists a game.
Rebounding Leaders
Five different Lions have led or tied for the team-high in rebounds in a game this season. Brett Thompson and David King each have a team-high 5.2 rebounds a game for the season.
HAAC Play
Lindenwood is looking to improve on its 13-7 record and a fourth-place finish last season in HAAC play. A key will be getting off to a better start. Last year, the Lions were 4-5 before rebounding and going 9-2 the rest of the year.
Away From Home
Lindenwood hits the road for the first time this week against Missouri Baptist and Baker. The Lions were 7-9 in away games last season.
Scouting the Spartans
Missouri Baptist enters Tuesday's game with a 4-5 record. The Spartans are 1-1 against HAAC schools. They have also lost twice to Mid-Continent, a team the Lions have defeated.
Missouri Baptist is averaging 72.3 points a game, and are allowing 74.9. It is being outrebounded by over three boards a contest, but is forcing 20 turnovers a game.
Four Spartans are averaging double-figure scoring. Le Andre' Johnson is the team leader with 12.9 points and 4.8 assists a game, and he is second with 4.7 rebounds a game. David Prater leads the team with 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals a contest.
Head coach of Missouri Baptist is Ray Farrell. He is in his fourth season at the school.
Scouting the Wildcats I
Culver-Stockton is off to an 0-5 start heading into a game on Monday versus Hannibal-LaGrange. The Wildcats are averaging just 54.0 points a game, while allowing over 70.
Peter Rodriguez leads the team with 10.0 points a game. No player is averaging over five rebounds a contest, and Rodriguez leads the team with 12 assists.
John Windham is in his third season at the school. He has a 12-53 record
Scouting the Wildcats II
Baker is currently 3-4 heading into its conference opener on Thursday at Benedictine. The Wildcats have lost four out of its five since opening the year with two straight wins.
Baker is outrebounding opponents by 2.5 rebounds a game, led by Andre Strozier with 8.0 rebounds a game.
Jaris Wommack is the leading scorer with 15.0 points a game, and Strozier has a 13.1 scoring average. Those two players are shooting 48.8 percent from the field, but the rest of the team is just 35.7 percent.
Head coach of Baker is Brett Ballard. The former Director of Basketball Operations at Kansas is in his first year at the school. One of the assistant coaches is David Ward, Lindenwood's graduate assistant coach the past two years.
Last Season's Results
Lindenwood went 5-0 against this week's competition last season.
The Lions defeated Missouri Baptist 74-65 in non-conference action. Lindenwood swept Culver-Stockton by scores of 84-53 and 74-47, and took both games from Baker by margins of 70-57 and 64-44.
Lindenwood has won five straight games against Culver-Stockton, two in a row against Baker, and has a one-game winning streak versus Missouri Baptist.
Up Next
The Lions face No. 22 Evangel on Dec. 9 in Springfield, Mo., followed by a three-game road trip to Chicago. In Chicago, Lindenwood will face East-West, No. 4 Robert Morris, and Rocky Mountain.
