The Lindenwood men's basketball team lost a key MIAA game against the Central Missouri Mules on Saturday afternoon 58-53 in Warrensburg, Mo.

The contest started with both teams struggling. The first points of the game did not come until three minutes in. Lindenwood's first points did come until 12:32 to play in the first half. Central Missouri opened the game on 14-3 run and had the lead up to as many as 14 in the first half.

It looked like the Mules would run away with the game in the second half but the Lions had other ideas. Lindenwood cut the Central Missouri lead down to six with just over 11 minutes to play.

The Mules would then push the lead back up to 10 with 3:39 to play. Lindenwood again battled back and after a Chanse Creekmur three the lead was down to five. Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Lions could get. Central Missouri closed the game out from the free throw line making nine of its last 10 attempts.

Lindenwood ended the day shooting 41 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the arc. Darris Smith led the way for the Lions scoring 14 points dishing out three assists and compiling two steals. Creekmur was second on the team with 11 points and Cotry Arentsen scored 10 points.

The loss dropped the Lions to 16-9 overall and 11-5 in MIAA play. Up next for Lindenwood is another huge MIAA game on Wednesday night in St. Charles against Northwest Missouri State.