Game #6
Lindenwood (2-3, 0-0 OVC)
at Valparaiso (1-2, 0-0 MVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024
Location: Valparaiso, Ind.
Venue: Athletics Recreation Center
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m. CT 
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball will play only one game this week as they take on the Beacons of Valparaiso University in Indiana on Thursday, Nov. 21st at 7:00 p.m. CT. The Lions are coming off a weekend in which they played three games in four days at the Urban-Bennett MTE on the campus of Robert Morris.

Over the weekend, Lindenwood went 1-2 at their MTE including a one-point victory over Stonehill College to end the trip. Lindenwood averaged 67.3 points per game over those three games while shooting 40.3% from the floor and 26.9% from long distance. The Lions' defense allowed teams to shot 41.0% from behind the arc including 50.0% (15-30 3FG) by Stonehill.

The freshman duo of Jadis Jones and Clayton Jackson flashed this weekend while in Moon Township, Pa. Both would go on to average double-figures for the weekend including Jackson who would go on to win Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week. This marked back-to-back weeks the Lions have taken home this award.

The Beacons are in the middle of a five-game home stretch which includes a matchup against OVC opponent Eastern Illinois on Sunday. Valpo is coming off a 67-75 loss against Cleveland State last Tuesday. They are led by second-year head coach Roger Powell Jr. who led them to a 7-25 record a season ago. Valparaiso was picked to finish 10th during the 2024-25 season.

Player to Watch
Clayton Jackson is the reigning OVC Freshman of the Week after averaging 10.7 points per game last weekend in Moon Township, Pa. at the Urban-Bennett MTE. He shot 63.2% from the field including 50.0% from downtown.

Jackson scored a career-high 15 points vs. New Orleans while shooting 6-8 from the floor. During a crucial one-point win over Stonehill, Jackson scored 12-points off the bench while shooting 4-6 from the floor and two threes. He is averaging 8.4 points per game this season.

OVC Preseason Rankings
In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head men's basketball coaches and communication directors, Little Rock has been picked the preseason favorites for the 2024-25 season. Lindenwood was picked to finish ninth receiving 67 points, their most since joining the OVC.

Little Rock picked up 20 of the 22 first-place votes in the conference. Western Illinois (172 points), SIUE (151 points, 2 first-place votes) and Tennessee State (134) rounded out the top four in the OVC. Defending OVC Champions Morehead State were selected to finish fifth this season followed by Eastern Illinois, SEMO, Southern Indiana, Lindenwood, UT Martin and Tennessee Tech.

The Ohio Valley Conference also selected two 'Players To Watch" from each OVC school to start the upcoming season. Talton and newcomer Browning were tabbed as Lindenwood's players to watch for the 2024-25 season. 

Valparaiso Notes
The Beacons are led by Devon Ellis who is averaging 16.0 points per game including a season-high 19 points vs. Cleveland State during their last game. He shot 5-12 from the floor including 8-11 from the line. He also is averaging 5.7 rebounds while shooting 47.5% from the field.

Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro is their second leading scorer averaging 12.3 points. Among starters, he leads the team in FG% shooting 55.0% from the floor. Monegro is almost perfect from the foul line shooting 13-14.

Head Coach: Kyle Gerdeman
Kyle Gerdeman is entering his sixth year at the helm of the Lindenwood men's basketball program in 2024-25.

During the 2023-24 season, Gerdeman coached Keenon Cole to second team all-conference honors. The Streamwood, Ill.native averaged 18.1 points per game, which ranked fourth in the OVC. Cole poured in a career-high 42 points in a 74-68 road win over SEMO on January 11. For his performance, Cole was tabbed the OVC Player of the Week as well as being recognized as one of the Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week. 
 
In 2022-23, Lindenwood earned a spot in the OVC Championship tournament after a wild ending to the year.  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) during the 2022-23 season.  Chris Childs held the top spot in the league with a free-throw percentage of 92.7, while 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
Lindenwood will have a Thanksgiving Eve matchup against in-state Missouri on Wednesday, Nov. 27th at 5:30 p.m. CT in Columbia, Mo. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.