Game #23
Lindenwood (8-14, 2-7 OVC)
vs. Western Illinois (13-8, 6-2 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-1
Last Meeting: L, 57-68
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch
KCLC: Radio

Matchup
The Lindenwood men's basketball team continues their four-game home stretch on Thursday, Feb. 1 at Hyland Arena with a matchup vs. the Leathernecks of Western Illinois. LU is 2-7 in conference games this season.

The Lions are coming off a 58-54 defensive win against Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday. Lindenwood made eight straight foul shots down the stretch to secure their first home OVC win this season. As a team, LU had 11 steals including the game-clinching steal by Darius Beane. This win stopped a five game losing streak.

Western Illinois currently ranks seconds in the conference standings with an OVC record of 6-2 in their first season in the league. The Leathernecks are coming off a 50-64 loss to #1-ranked Morehead State last Saturday. WIU is 6-6 on the road this season.

During OVC competition, the Lions are averaging 63.4 ppg which ranks 10th among all OVC teams. They are shooting 40.8% during those games which ranks ninth. Throughout the entire season, LU is averaging 65.9 points a game behind the Lion's two leading scorers Keenon Cole (18.9 ppg) and Darius Beane (12.7 ppg). The duo combines for 48.0% of Lindenwood's scoring.

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
Darius Beane is coming off an impressive defensive performance on Tuesday after picking up a season high five steals against SEMO including the game-cinching one with six seconds left which led to foul shots for the Lions.

Beane has scored in double-figures in three straight OVC game including 14 points against SEMO. He shot 5-14 from the field and 4-4 from the line. Beane also dished out three assists.

On the season, Beane is averaging 12.7 points per game, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.2 minutes per game. He has scored in double-figures 14 times this season including six times in conference play.

OVC Top Ten
Keenon Cole jumped into second in the OVC last week in scoring while averaging 18.9 points per game. He leads the conference in total points after Tuesday's 20-point game with 416. He also ranks seventh in free-throw percentage at 80.6% and fourth in minutes averaging 33.9. Cole also ranks 10th in rebounds averaging 6.4 this season.

Darius Beane can also score for the Lions averaging 12.7 points per game this season ranking just outside the top ten at 12. His field goal percentage ranks sixth in the OVC at 46.4%. Beane is second in most offensive categories behind Cole. He also ranks t-10th in minutes play averaging 31.4 a contest.

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 Western Illinois
The Leathernecks are led by first year head coach Chad Boudreau who has a career record of 13-8 in his short time as head coach. Boudreau has led his team so far to a 6-2 OVC record which is good for second in the conference. Their 43.38 rpg ranks third in the entire country.

UMSL transfer Drew Cisse averaged 8.5 ppg while grabbing 11.9 rpg which ranks third in the nation. His 250 total rebounds also ranks third. He has 15 games this season with double-digit rebounds including a season high 20 rebounds against North Dakota.

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 face-off against Tennessee State next Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Hyland Arean for an OVC double-header. For more information, please visit lindenwoodlions.com.