Game #7
Lindenwood (3-3, 0-0 OVC)
vs. Utah Tech (2-3, 0-0 WAC)
Match Information:
Date: Monday, Nov. 26, 2023
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-1
Last Meeting: L, 64-95 (12/22/22)
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
The Lindenwood men's basketball team returns home to Hyland Arena after heading out West to the Air Force Classic before Thanksgiving break. On Monday, the Lions will take on Utah Tech for their second home game of the season.

Lindenwood is coming off an impressive 2-1 record at the Air Force Classic (MTE) as they defeated Omaha and William & Mary to improve their overall record to 3-3. Darius Beane had his best performance as a Lion with a career-high 25 points in a 71-60 victory over William & Mary.

Utah Tech sits at a 2-3 record this season, most recently taking on Pac-12 opponent Washington State last Friday (L, 53-93). Last season, the Lions traveled to Utah and suffered a 64-95 loss at the hands of Utah Tech.

On the season, Lindenwood is shooting 40.8% from the field while making 72.4% from the line. Their three-point shooting has been better as of the Air Force Classic which saw five three pointers from grad-transfer Keith Haymon II vs. William & Mary.

To begin the season, the Lions were picked to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference as they begin their second Division I season in program history under head coach Kyle Gerdeman.

Player to Watch
The only true-freshman for the Lions, Colin Ruffin was named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week after his performances in Colorado. Ruffin helped the Lions to a 3-1 record during that span while averaging 4.5 points per game.

Although his numbers don't jump out, Ruffin was the spark late in the Lions' 72-70 win over Omaha in USAFA, Colo. With 18 seconds remaining, Ruffin drove the left lane before pulling up with a floater to give the Lions a three point lead. He would later hit a foul shoot to seal the win for the Lions.

He shot 7-16 last week including going 4-6 from the field in the win over Omaha. Ruffin also pulled down 2.3 rebounds while picking up five steals and seven assists. On the season, he is averaging 4.8 ppg while shooting 42.9% from the field.

OVC Top Ten
The leader of the 2023-24 Lindenwood Lions team is leading scorer Keenon Cole. Cole is averaging 17.2 points per game this season, fifth in the OVC, and has scored in double digits in all six games for the Lions. He is third on the team and ninth in the conference in FG% while shooting 45.9% from the field.

Not only is Cole effective from the field, but he also is solid at the foul line making 87.5% at the charity stripe, ranking second in the OVC. His 28 makes from the line is also second in the conference.

Darius Beane is also effective from the floor ranking sixth in field goal percentage after shooting 50.8% this season. Beane has scored over 20 points twice this season including a season high 25 points vs. William & Mary.

Jaylon McDaniel sneaks into the top ten this week in blocked shots averaging 1.0 per game in his five appearances this season. At the Air Force Classic, McDaniel had two blocks each against Air Force and Omaha. He also scored a career high 12 points in the win over Omaha.

The Freshman of the Week Ruffin also ranks in the top ten this season in steals, ranking eighth with an average of 1.3 per game and eight total. He had five steals to lead Lindenwood in last week's action.

OVC Preseason Rankings
In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head men's basketball coaches and communication directors, Morehead State has been picked the preseason favorites for the 2023-24 season. It marks the second-straight year the Eagles have been tabbed the favorites.
 
The Eagles picked up 20 of 22 first-place votes (teams could not vote for themselves); Tennessee State picked up the other votes.  MSU tallied 200 points and was followed by SIUE (162), who was picked second. Tennessee State (153) was picked third and followed by UT Martin (149), Southeast Missouri (124), Tennessee Tech (120), Little Rock (85), Western Illinois (80), Southern Indiana (63), Lindenwood (40) and Eastern Illinois (34).

Scouting Utah Tech
The Trailblazers are led by 19th year head coach Jon Judkins who has 320 career wins while at Utah Tech. He has led the Trailblazers to nine NCAA Tournament appearances with one Sweet 16 run during the 2010-11 season. Utah Tech was picked to finish in 11th place in the WAC this season.

Tanner Christensen has been a staple of the Trailblazer's offense this season while racking up a team high 7.8 rebounds per game while also scoring 12.4 points per game. He scored a season high 26 points in a win in overtime over Jacksonville State earlier this season.

Head Coach: Kyle Gerdeman
Kyle Gerdeman enters his fifth year at the helm of the Lindenwood men's basketball program in the 2023-24 season. The Lions concluded their inaugural Division I season in 2022-23 where Gerdeman led the Lions to an appearances in the OVC Tournament after a wild finish to the season.

The Lions took down in-state rival Southeast Missouri State in double-overtime to keep their postseason hopes alive.  In the final game of the regular season, Lindenwood needed a win to move on, and Kevin Caldwell Jr. answered the call with a game-winning bucket in overtime.

Lindenwood led the OVC in free-throw percentage (75.6), and was second in the OVC in three-point percentage (39.1).  Chris Childs held the top spot in the league with a free-throw percentage of 92.7, while Keenon Cole was atop the OVC with a three-point percentage of 51.0 percent.  The Lions clawed their way to three overtime wins on the season.  Lindenwood also posted two comeback victories from 20 points down, and another 17-point comeback during OVC play.

Up Next
The Lions travel back out west to Pocatello, Idaho to face off against Idaho State on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7:00 p.m. Lindenwood won their first matchup against Idaho State last season in Hyland Arena on 11/23/22 with a 77-76 victory in overtime. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.