Complete Game Notes in .pdf Format Here

After taking a few days off for the holidays, the Lions will be back on the road. Lindenwood will travel to Las Vegas, Nev. for the Las Vegas Classic. The Lions will play three games against three NAIA teams, and will be looking to continue their early season success.

The team will start off the weekend with a game against La Sierra on Dec. 28. Following the opening game the Lions will play Menlo, and the Daemen Wildcats. Lindenwood will be looking to continue its hot streak and add onto its current seven game winning streak.

Last Time Out
The Lions overcame a slow start and upended the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders 74-65 last Monday night in St. Charles.

The game started with Lindsey Wilson scoring the first points of the game, followed by the Lions tying the score. Lindenwood grabbed a three-point lead with 13:32 to play in the first half, and then there seemed to be a lid on the hoop for the Lions. Over the next seven minutes, Lindenwood was two-for-22 shooting the ball, and allowed Lindsey Wilson to take a seven-point lead.
Finally, at the four-minute mark, Tyler Ressel connected on a three-pointer which sent the Lions on a 12-0 run to take a five-point lead.

The start of the second half was a different story for the home team. The Lions made their first 10-of-12 shots to take a 10-point lead. The Blue Raiders cut the lead to four on two separate occasions, but every time they would, Lindenwood had an answer.
After a tough first half shooting, Lindenwood was still able to shoot 44 percent from the field and 30 percent from behind the arc.

Kramer Soderberg led the team in scoring with 19 points, which is the seventh time this season he has been the high scorer. Alex Bazzell continued his streak of scoring in double figures every game this season with 18, and also dished out seven assists.

Bazzell Honored
Alex Bazzell was named the ICAA Player of the Week. Bazzell helped the Lions to a 3-0 record last week and averaged over 16 points a game. He shot 57 percent from the field, 70 percent from the three-point line, 85 percent from the free-throw line, and dished out 5.7 assists a game.

So far this season, the junior from St. Charles has scored doubel figures in every game this seaosn. He is second on the team in scoring with 16.9 points.

Quick Start
The first half has been very kind to the Lions in their first 11 games. The team is averaging 44 first-half points, which is more than 12 points more than its opponents.

Charity Stripe
The Lions have been frequent visitors to the free-throw line this season. The team is averaging 28 free-throw attempts a game compared to its opponents who are taking just 16.

As a team, Lindenwood is shooting 76 percent from the free-throw line. Alex Bazzell is leading the team with 91 attempts and has made 81 percent of his shots.

High Scoring Attack
Lindenwood has been pouring in the points this season. As a team, the Lions are  averaging 92.8 points a game. The team has hit the century mark twice this season. The Lions have also scored over 80 points in every game but one.

Dominating the Boards
The Lions have outrebounded their opponents in all but one game this season. The team is averaging over eight rebounds more than its opponent.

Soderberg Tearing it Up
Kramer Soderberg has continued his early season success. He has led the Lions in scoring every game but three. The senior from St. Charles is leading the team in scoring with 19.7 points, and steals with 11. He is shooting 51 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free-throw line. He was named to the All-Tournament team at the Alaskan Invitational and tournament MVP at the McKendree Classic.

Defense is Solid
The Lions' defense has been solid all season. The team has held opponents under 40 percent shooting five times.

Consistency
For all 11 games this season, the Lions have used the same starting lineup. The group of Soderberg, Thompson, Bazzell, Reeg, and Eren are scoring 61 points of the team's average of 94.

Home Court Advantage
The Hyland Arena floor has been very good to the Lions since Brad Soderberg took over. In his two seasons at the helm, the team has compiled a record of 28-4 at home. In 2009-10, Lindenwood was 13-1, followed by a 15-3 record last season.

About La Sierra
La Sierra enters the game against the Lions with a record of 1-11. La Sierra lost its first 10 games of the season before getting its first win. The Golden Eagles are a member of the NAIA.

The Golden Eagles offense averages 61.3 points a night and the defense surrenders 75. La Sierra is 14th in the NAIA in rebounding margin with over eight more than its opponents.

Daveon Woods leads the team in scoring with 14 points and 3.7 assists. Kenneth Penn is second on the team in scoring with 10.7 points and is the team's leading rebounder with 9.3 rebounds.

Derek Robbins is the head coach of the Golden Eagles. He is in his fourth season at the helm.

About Menlo
The Menlo Oaks enter the Las Vegas Classic with a record of 2-11. Before the Oaks take on the Lions, the team will play Robert Morris itn its first game in Vegas.

Menlo averages just under 63 points a game on offense and surrenders 79 on defense. The Oaks also are turning the ball over 18 times a contest.

Tim Tatum is the leading scorer for the Oaks with an average of 16.3 points. He also leads the team in rebounds with 6.9 rebounds. ChaRunn Jones is second on the team in scoring with 14.3 points a contest.

Jon Surface is in his second season as the head coach of Menlo.  

About Daemen
The Daemen Wildcats enter the Las Vegas Classic with a record of 8-5. Before taking on the Lions the team will play Fresno Pacific and Great Falls.

The Wildcats average 72 points a game on offense and 68.5 point on defense. Daemen is first in the NAIA with over five blocks a game.

Dom Mizzochi is the team's leading scorer with over 14 points a game and is also first in rebounds with 5.5 rebounds. Casey Sheehan is second on the team in scoring with 11.5 points .

Don Silveri is the head coach of Daemen  and is in his 23rd season.