The Lindenwood men's basketball team won its sixth consecutive game on Thursday night after a 63-58 win over the visiting Missouri Southern Lions.
 
The game was nip and tuck from the opening tip. The game saw 10 ties and neither team led by more than seven points.
 
The opening half the teams traded runs and eventually Missouri Southern headed into the locker room with a six-point advantage.
 
It didn't take Lindenwood long to get back to even after the break. The Lions went on a 7-0 run to start the half to take a one-point advantage. The teams traded the lead back-and-forth until the 4:14 mark.
 
At that time the Lions held a four-point lead. Missouri Southern then scored the game's next four points to tie the game again. Sam Mader then hit one-of-two free throws to give the Lindenwood the one-point lead with just over two minutes to play.
 
Missouri Southern answered with a bucket to take a one-point lead. It was then Darris Smith's turn for Lindenwood and he hit a running jumper to take the lead back.
 
Missouri Southern then came down and had three chances to take the lead but Garrett Reeg grabbed a huge rebound and was fouled. He then proceeded to make two free throws to give Lindenwood the three-point lead. After another stop on defense LJ McIntosh finished the game off with two more free throws.
 
Smith led the way for Lindenwood with 20 points and was a perfect eight-for-eight from the free throw line. Cory Arentsen recorded his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Lions shot 37 percent from the field and 84 percent from the free throw line. Missouri Southern won the rebounding battle 41-38 including 18 offensive boards. Lindenwood stepped up its defense in the second half holding Missouri Southern to 24 points and 28 percent shooting.    
 
The win improved the Lions to 10-6 on the season and 6-2 in MIAA play. Lindenwood will play its final non-conference game of the season Saturday afternoon against Robert Morris-Springfield.