For the second straight season, the Lindenwood men's basketball team fell in the HAAC Tournament Championship game. The No. 12 Lions fell this year to No. 20 Evangel by a 69-62 score. 

The game was tied 62-62 with a minute left, but the officials sent Evangel to the free throw line eight times in the final 46 seconds and the Crusaders hit seven of the freebies for the final margin of victory. 

Lindenwood shot just 40 percent on the night, were outrebounded 40-35, and had four more turnovers. The Lions did make six more three-pointers and held Evangel to just 42.9 percent shooting from the field. 

Alex Bazzell led the Lions with 20 points, followed by Brett Thompson with 10. Kramer Soderberg and Richard Rose each had nine. Alfred Nelson had a team-high nine rebounds, Thompson had a pair of blocks, and Soderberg collected five assists. 

Lindenwood still advances to the NAIA Division I National Tournament. The Lions, who are now 28-5 on the season, will find out their seeding and first-round opponent on Wednesday at 7 p.m.