Video (defensive stop and postgame reaction)
Photo Gallery #1
Photo Gallery #2

In its first appearance in the NAIA Division I National Championship, the No. 20 Lindenwood men's basketball team defeated No. 14 St. Catharine by a 78-72 score. The Lions advance to Friday's second round after picking up the victory on Wednesday afternoon at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 

Lindenwood led for the majority of the game, but St. Catharine took a 64-62 lead with 5:52 remaining on a three-point shot by Brandon Johnson. That capped a 17-5 run for the Pioneers that erased a ten-point Lindenwood advantage.

The Lions retook the lead though after a 5-0 run led by the team's post players. Brett Thompson made it 64-63 with a free throw, and David King put Lindenwood ahead by a 65-64 margin with a field goal with 3:21 left. Thompson then put Lindenwood ahead by three with another made basket with 2:49 remaining.

St. Catharine cut the lead to one on three different occasions down the stretch. The first two times, Kramer Soderberg was fouled and made two free throws. The final time, Richard Rose made just one free throw and the Pioneers had a chance to tie or take the lead. Lindenwood forced a missed shot with 19 seconds remaining and Soderberg grabbed the rebound. He then hit four more free throws and Alex Bazzell made two to capture the victory.

Lindenwood only trailed once in the first half at 2-0. It went on an 8-0 run to take the lead and the team led 37-33 after Soderberg hit a shot as time expired at the end of the half. In the second half, St. Catharine took a 47-46 lead just over three minutes into the period. Lindenwood answered with an 11-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at ten. That run was sparked by the guards, with Soderberg scoring a field, Rose making three free throws after being fouled on a three-pointer, and Bazzell and Alfred Nelson making three-pointers.

Lindenwood won the game by keeping its composure against a St. Catharine defense that forces over 20 turnovers a game. The Lions turned the ball over just 11 times, including three in the second half. Lindenwood was also able to draw fouls and go to the free throw line. The Lions made 33 of 40 free throws, compared to just nine of 16 for the Pioneers.

Defensively, the Lions forced 13 turnovers and held St. Catharine to 42.6 percent shooting from the field. St. Catharine was able to keep the game close by dominating the boards. The Pioneers had 15 more rebounds in the game, including 17 offensive boards. 

Soderberg finished with 27 points, just one off his season high. He made seven of 10 from the field and was perfect on two three-pointers and 11 free throws. He also had a team-high three steals.

The other two parts of Lindenwood's guard trio also scored in double-figures. Alex Bazzell had 14 points, and Richard Rose added 13. Bazzell also had seven rebounds.

Garrett Reeg and David King both came off the bench and scored seven points. King had a team-high eight rebounds. Brett Thompson and Alfred Nelson rounded out the scoring with five points apiece, and Nelson led the Lions with three assists.

St. Catharine, which was held 10 points below its season average, had four players in double-figure scoring. Marquis Lee scored 18 points off the bench, including 10 straight at one point in the second half. Xavier Keeling added 16 points and Antoine Watson had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Kashiff Carr, the Pioneers' top scorer, was held to 15 points on seven of 17 shooting. He came into the game averaging 21.5 points.

Lindenwood improves to 29-5 overall, while St. Catharine's season ends with a 22-9 record. The Lions will play in the second round on Friday at 4:30 p.m.