The Lindenwood men's basketball team overcame an 18-point deficit in the second half and defeated Southern Nazarene on Saturday in Weatherford, Okla. by an 86-79 score. The Lions started the season with a 2-0 record at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Classic. 

After playing its second game in less than 24 hours, Lindenwood appeared out of gas as it trailed 71-53 with 9:40 remaining in the game. Cory Arentsen scored a three-point play, which gave the team a spark, and the Lions outscored the Crimson Storm 33-8 for the rest of the game. Arentsen led the team down the stretch scoring 17 points, having three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. 

Lindenwood cut the lead to eight with a 10-0 run, and then, after a Southern Nazarene basket, went on another big spurt, this one a 16-0 output. The Lions hit four straight three-pointers during the second run, including three by Arentsen, and they took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Sam Mader. The Crimson Storm got within 79-76 with 1:41 left, but Brad Newman scored five straight points for Lindenwood to put the game away.

Arentson finished with 36 points, the most for a Lion since Tyler Ressel scored 41 during the 2013-14 season. He was 14-of-19 from the field, including seven-of-nine from three-point range. He also grabbed eight rebounds and had three assists.

Newman had 18 in the game, including six-of-eight from the free-throw line. Sam Mader added 10 points, and Stanislas Heili just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

As a team, Lindenwood shot 56.9 percent from the field, and it made 11-of-22 three-points. The Lions shot 65.5 percent in the second half. Southern Nazarene was also hot from three-point range, making 16-of-35 shots, but it shot just 46 percent overall from the field.

Lindenwood will have the first home game of the Lance Randall era on Wednesday night when it takes on Maryville at 7 p.m. at Hyland Arena.