Game #7
Lindenwood (2-4, 0-0 OVC)
at Missouri (5-1, 0-0 SEC)
Match Information:
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Venue: Mizzou Arena
Tip-Off: 5:30 p.m. CT 
All-Time Series: 0-1
Last Meeting: 53-82
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball ends the month of November with a matchup between in-state opponent Missouri at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. on Wednesday, Nov. 27th at 5:30 p.m. CT. The Lions will have been on the road for all but one game in the month of Nov. after their meeting against the Tigers.

The Lions are coming off a 64-77 loss at Missouri Valley opponent Valparaiso last week. Lindenwood was led by Markeith Browning II who scored a season-high 20 points against the Beacons. Jadis Jones also chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds as he was named the OVC Freshman of the Week for the second time in three weeks.

Lindenwood is averaging 70.7 points per game this season with them scoring over 70 points in three out of their first six games. The Lions are led by three double-digit scorers including Jones who leads the Lions averaging 12.5 points per game as a Freshman. Anias Futrell is also averaging 12.3 points per game. The St. Louis native is shooting 39.7% from the field and 32.3% from long range.

Missouri is off to a hot start with a 5-1 record. The Tigers are led by third-year head coach Dennis Gates who has helped the Tigers average 91.7 points per game to start the season. Missouri is currently on a five-game win streak winning their last game against Arkansas Pine-Bluff by a score of 112-63.

Player to Watch
Freshman Jadis Jones is Lindenwood's leading scorer after averaging 12.5 points per game this season. Jones has scored in double-figures in five of his first six games to start his career. He is coming off his best game of the season after scoring 17 points on 7-15 shooting with nine rebounds including four offensive boards.

He also leads the team in rebounding averaging 6.8 rebounds per game. To start his career, Jones posted a double-double against SEC opponent Oklahoma after posting a 10-10 game. He is shooting 55.4% from the floor averaging 29.2 minutes a night. Jones is the reigning OVC Freshman of the Week and has won the award twice 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. 

Missouri Notes
The Tigers are led by one of four double-digit scorers including leading scorer Caleb Grill who is averaging 15.5 points per game this season. Grill is Mizzou's sixth man as he as only started one of six games. He has scored in double-figures in four straight games including a season-high 33 points vs. Eastern Washington where he went 8-10 from three.

Tamar Bates has started all six games for the Tigers this season while averaging 13.0 points and 2.5 rebounds a night. Bates is shooting 54.9% from the floor while going 11-26 from three-point range. He is coming off a 13 points performance against Arkansas Pine-Bluff in 18 minutes of action.

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 returns home to Hyland Arena after the holiday break when they face East-West University on Wednesday, Dec. 3rd at 6:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.