GAME OVERVIEW
The Lindenwood men's basketball team (15-15, 8-10 MIAA) earned a crucial victory over MIAA foe, Central Missouri on Wednesday evening from Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo. The Lions defeated the Mules by a final score of 78-72, marking their fifth straight win over Central Missouri, and helping to strengthen their postseason odds.

Lindenwood trailed Central Missouri 13-11 after the opening 5:05 of play. Shortly after, Diego Womack knocked down a jumper inside the paint, pulling the Lions even at 13-13. Womack's field goal ignited the Lions on a 15-2 run over the next 6:19 of play, giving Lindenwood a commanding 26-15 edge.

The Lions maintained their lead for the remainder of the half and carried a 38-32 edge into the break.

Lindenwood came firing out to begin the second half, hitting its first four shots, including three makes from behind the arc. The Lions opened the half on an 11-3 run, and established their largest lead of the evening at 49-35.

Although the Lions did not relinquish their lead throughout the second half, the Mules did manage to trim their deficit to a single point with 1:48 left in regulation.

Brad Newman and TJ Crockett helped to seal the victory for Lindenwood with impact plays on both ends of the floor. Newman accounted for Lindenwood's final 10 points of the game, while Crockett added an impressive chase-down block on the other side of the court.

In the end, the Lions held off the Mules by a final score of 78-72.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Newman finished the evening with a game-high 34-point performance (10-of-13 FG, 5-of-7 3PFG), his fifth game this season with at least 30 points.
- Newman's five makes from three-point range matched a single-game career-high.
- Newman scored 21 of Lindenwood's 40 total points in the second half, including 9-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line.
- Chandler Diekvoss was Lindenwood's only other double-digit scorer in the game, finishing with 16 points (7-of-12 FG).
- Crockett and Diekvoss tied for the team lead with five rebounds.
- Crockett added nine points off of the bench for the Lions, while also setting a new single-game career-high with his two blocks.
- Adam Pohlman dished out a game-high eight assists. Pohlman has registered at least eight assists in four of Lindenwood's last six games.
- Lindenwood finished the game shooting 50 percent from three-point range (11-of-22). The team's 11 made three-pointers were its most in a game since hitting 12 at Southwest Baptist on Jan. 17.
- As a team, the Lions shot 55.1 percent from the field in the game (27-of-49). It was Lindenwood's fourth-highest shooting percentage in a game this season, and its best since shooting 55.4 percent on Dec. 15 at Florida Southern.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Lance Randall
"Our seniors came up clutch when we need them the most tonight," said Randall. "Newman was a monster that whole game and just refused to lose. Pohlman came up with some big defensive plays and rebounds for us. Diekvoss had a great offensive game, including some big rebounds at key times. Crockett's blocks were as good as it gets. It's just a great win. That was a super competitive display of two teams battling their tails off."

UP NEXT
Lindenwood will conclude its regular season schedule on Saturday afternoon at home against Southwest Baptist. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Lions will honor the five members of their 2018-19 senior class prior to the start of the game as part of the annual senior day ceremonies.