COLUMBIA, Mo. - Lindenwood men's basketball (2-5, 0-0 OVC) falls to SEC opponent Missouri (6-1, 0-0 SEC) by a final score of 81-61. The Lions were held to 35.6% shooting from the floor after going 12-31 during the first half (38.7 FG%). Missouri shot 53.8% in the second half to close out the victory.

"It means something for our guys that are from in-state to come and get a chance to play at the University of Missouri," said head coach Kyle Gerdeman. "I liked the way we competed and the way we played tonight. I was pleased with how we played over 40 minutes."

Markeith Browning II scored a season-high 21 points after shooting 7-16 from the floor while going a perfect 6-6 from the foul line. Browning was active all over the floor grabbing five rebounds and adding a team-high four steals. Lindenwood created 13 total turnovers while causing Mizzou to turn the ball over 20 times (season-high for Mizzou).

Freshman Jadis Jones scored 14 points in the loss marking the sixth time this season he has scored in double-figures. Jones shot 6-9 from the field while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. He has posted at least five rebounds in six games this season. The Lions were out-rebounded 46-25 on Wednesday including 15 offensive rebounds by the Tigers.

Anias Futrell shot 2-10 from the floor against the Tigers scoring eight points while adding two steals. The St. Louis native went 4-7 from the foul line as the Lions as a team shot 76.2% from the charity stripe. Missouri went 22-29 at the foul line. MU was led by Tony Perkins with 18 points while Marques Warrick added 17.

Lindenwood started the game hot shooting 7-15 from the floor including six early points from Browning and five from Jordan Wildy off the bench. Lindenwood trailed by two points (17-19) with 10:40 left in the first half. With 5:10 left to play in the half, Browning created a steal off the in-bound and scored a layup to cut the lead to 23-25. 

Missouri capitalized on their rebounding at the end of the first half going on a 12-2 run to head into the locker room leading 37-27. Browning scored 10 points in the first 20 minutes of the ball game while Jones added six at the half. Missouri out-rebounded the Lions 25-14 in the first half while Lindenwood scored 13 points off turnovers and 20 in the paint.

After Missouri started off the second half strong go up by as many as 15 points, Jones cut the lead to 11 with 13:21 remaining after a layup in the paint. The Tigers went on a 14-5 run over the next five minutes to jump out to a 20 point lead with 8:40 left to play.

The Tigers lead would grow to as many as 24 points in the second half as Lindenwood could not crawl back into the game. Nathan Johnson Jr. ended the night with a three-point jumper with 20 second remaining as the Lions fell 61-81 in Columbia.

Lindenwood was held to 31.1% from the field in the second half shooting 9-28 from the floor. The Lions went 3-20 from long-range on Tuesday, but shot 14-15 from the foul line in the second half. LU's 16 made free-throws are the second most by the team this season.

The Lions get a week off before coming home to St. Charles, Mo. to take on East-West University during only their second home game of the season on Wednesday, Dec. 4th. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.