The Lindenwood men's basketball team (5-7, 1-3 GLVC) will return to the floor on Thursday, as the Lions host Illinois Springfield (6-6, 1-3 GLVC) inside Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo. at 7:30 p.m.

The Lions will play their first game since the January 2 loss to No. 19 Truman State.  In the first game of the 2022 portion of the schedule, Romelo Burrell posted his fourth double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.  Jacoby Ross scored 24 points, including 4-of-8 shooting from behind the arc.

Burrell ranks top-10 in NCAA Division II in both free-throws attempted (112) and free-throws made (92).  Burrell has compiled 19 blocks this year, which ranks second in the GLVC.  Ross is leading the conference with 20.8 points per contest, which is also 29th-best in the country.

Since the Lions joined the GLVC, the series with the Prairie Stars is tied 2-2.  In the previous four meetings, the winning team has notched 82 points or more.  Illinois Springfield won the most recent matchup by a final of 82-76, while the Lions won the previous two games.  The home team has come out on top since the two schools became conference opponents, as Lindenwood scored 85 points in each of its two wins.

Thursday will be the only matchup between the two teams this year,  Lindenwood will hit the road for a pair of games after the weekday bout with the Prairie Stars.  The Lions visit Quincy on Saturday, and take on Lewis on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.