complete game notes in .pdf format

Storyline
The No. 12 Lindenwood men's basketball team has another shot at William Jewell on Saturday night in a HAAC Tournament semifinal contest. The Lions have lost just four times this season, but two of those losses have been to the Cardinals. 

The Lions set a school record with their 27th win of the season in the first round of the tournament. Lindenwood defeated Avila by an 85-65 margin. 

Lindenwood, which won a share of the conference title in the regular season, is the two seed in the HAAC tournament after the best regular season in school history. 

The program has also already earned a spot in the 2011 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The Lions will be making their third national tournament appearance, including the first at the NAIA Division I level. 

The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to the finals on Tuesday against either Evangel or Benedictine. If Lindenwood and Benedictine win, the game will be held at Hyland Arena. 

Last Time Out
Lindenwood beat Avila 85-65 in the first round of the HAAC Tournament Thursday night at Hyland Arena.
Lindenwood won the game behind the arc. It hit 14 three-pointers, including nine in the first half when it jumped out to a 46-21 lead. Avila, the top team in the NAIA in three-pointers made, was 0 for 12 in the first half from behind the arc, and most of its six three-pointers came after the game was decided. 

The Eagles took a 6-5 lead in the early going, and that was the only time Avila held the lead. The Lions went on a 32-7 run over a 10-minute span to jump out to a 37-13 lead. Avila never cut the lead under 16 in the second half. 

Lindenwood's guard trio of Alex Bazzell, Kramer Soderberg, and Richard Rose combined for 60 of the Lions' 85 points. Soderberg led the way with 23 and also led the team with six assists. Bazzell scored 19 and Rose pitched in with 18. Bazzell made 10 free throws, and Rose hit six three-pointers. David King led the Lions in rebounds with seven, in just 15 minutes of playing time.

All-Conference
Three Lindenwood players were named to the 2011 all-conference teams. Kramer Soderberg was a first-team selection, and was also named the HAAC Newcomer of the Year. Richard Rose was a second-team pick, and Alex Bazzell earned third-team honors.

NAIA Statistics Leader
Lindenwood is among the NAIA statistical leaders in several categories. The Lions are second in three-point percentage, third in free throw percentage, ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio, 13th in three-pointers made, 14th in scoring margin, 16th in scoring defense, and 17th in field goal percentage. Among the others in the top 50 are being 25th in scoring offense and 33rd in field goal percentage defense.
Individually, Richard Rose is first in the NAIA in three-point field goal percentage and 22nd in three-pointers made per game. Kramer Soderberg and Alex Bazzell are both in the top 20 in free throw percentage. Soderberg is also in the top 50 in assists, points, and field goal percentage.

Protecting the Ball
Lindenwood is one of the top teams in the NAIA in protecting the ball. The Lions rank fourth nationally by turning the ball over just 12.1 times a game. 

In the 19 games since Christmas break, the Lions have not turned the ball over more than 15 times in a game. In that span, the Lions are averaging just 11.4 turnovers.

Hyland Arena
Lindenwood is 14-3 overall this season at Hyland Arena and 27-4 over the past two seasons. 

Slow Starts 
One common theme in all of Lindenwood's losses this year has been starting slow offensively. In the first half of its four losses, the Lions are averaging just 27.5 points, and shooting 35.8 percent from the field and 21.9 percent from three-point range.

Free Throw Shooting
Lindenwood is the top free throw shooting team in the HAAC, making 74.4 percent of its shots. Over the last nine games, the Lions have been even better, making 76.0 percent. In that span, it has shot 75 percent or better in every game but two.

Rebounding Numbers
Over the last nine games, Lindenwood is 6-0 when winning the rebounding battle, and 1-2 when losing it.

Leading Scorer
Kramer Soderberg has had a strong finish to his first season as a Lion. Over the last seven games, he is averaging 18.6 points a game. In that span, he has scored 20 or more points five times. He has made 19 three-pointers in those eight games and is shooting 51.4 percent from beyond the arc. 

Soderberg currently ranks first in the HAAC in assist-to-turnover ratio, second in assists, third in free throw percentage, and fifth in scoring.

Thompson in the Paint
In the final three regular season games, Brett Thompson averaged 15.0 points a game, and shot 73.9 percent from the field.

Scouting the Cardinals
William Jewell enters the HAAC semifinal contest with a 25-6 overall record. The Cardinals finished third in the HAAC with a 15-5 mark. William Jewell had to survive a 113-110 triple overtime scare versus Graceland in the first round of the HAAC Tournament. 

The Cardinals are one of the top rebounding teams in the conference, and also rank among the leaders in three-point shooting, assists and turnover margin. 

William Jewell is led by HAAC Player of the Year Nick Larson. Larson is averaging 17.3 points and 11.0 rebounds a game, and is shooting 58.2 percent from the field. Jonathan Benson and Mark Mason are averaging double-figure points, and Chris Uz is just below 10 points. 

Head coach of William Jewell is Larry Holley. Holley has been the coach since 1979-80 and he has won 822 games during his career.

Earlier This Year
William Jewell snapped Lindenwood's 16-game winning streak in Liberty by a 92-61 score. 

The game was tied 9-9 early on but the Cardinals outscored Lindenwood 40-15 for the rest of the first half. 

William Jewell shot over 51 percent from the field, including 12 of 22 from three-point range, turned the ball over just three times, and had 16 offensive rebounds. 

The lone Lion in double figures was Alfred Nelson who scored 15 points on six of 10 shooting. Efkan Eren led the team with seven rebounds. 

The rematch was closer but the Lions still fell by a 69-64 score in St. Charles. 

The Lions went on a 10-2 run late in the game and took a 63-62 lead with just over two minutes remaining. William Jewell responded though with two straight field goals to win the game. 

William Jewell shot just under 50 percent from the field and finished with 26 field goals. The Lions shot 38.5 percent from the field and had six less field goals. 

Kramer Soderberg had 16 points, and Brett Thompson had 13 points and team-highs of 11 rebounds and three assists.

HAAC Tournament
The top four seeds all won their opening round games in the HAAC Tournament. The other semifinal contest will be Benedictine at Evangel. If Evangel wins, it will host the championship game next Tuesday. If Benedictine wins, the winner of the Lindenwood and William Jewell will hosts the final.

NAIA Tournament
The NAIA Division I National Tournament will run from March 16-22 in Kansas City, Mo. The Lions will be making their first appearance a17.3 and t the Division I tournament. 

Lindenwood did make two appearances in the NAIA Division II tournament and is 4-2 at nationals. In 2000, the Lions advanced to the second round. In 2006, Lindenwood made it to the semifinals.