Game #12
Lindenwood (5-6, 0-0 OVC)
vs. Tennessee Tech (4-7, 0-1 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Dec. 19th, 2024
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. CT 
All-Time Series: 1-2
Last Meeting: L, 53-62 (OT)
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball starts Ohio Valley Conference play on Thursday inside Hyland Arena when they take on the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Lions are coming off their fifth win of the season after taking down IU Indy at home by a final score of 81-63. Lindenwood finished the non-conference portion of the season with a 5-6 record.

Tennessee Tech currently holds the all-time series lead against the Lions. After Lindenwood won the first meeting between the two schools back on New Year's Eve in 2022, Tech has won the last two meetings including last year in Hyland Arena when the Golden Eagles defeated LU by a score of 53-62 in overtime.

Lindenwood comes into Thursday's game winning three out of their last four games including an 81-63 victory over IU Indy inside Hyland Arena. As a team, LU shot 30-60 (50.0 FG%) from the floor which marked the second straight game the Lions have shot over 50.0% from the field. This marked the first time since the 2022-23 season that the Lions have shot at least 50.0% from the floor in back-to-back games.

Jaylon McDaniel had a career game against IU Indy after scoring 22-points in the win. McDaniel shot 9-12 from the floor and 4-6 at the foul line to power the Lions to a win. In the second half, McDaniel had a stretch of 10 straight points to extend their lead. Markeith Browning II also had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the win while Reggie Bass added 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Player to Watch
McDaniel has scored in double-figures 12 times during his two-year tenure at Lindenwood, but none were more important than last Saturday after scoring a career-high 22 points in a 81-63 win over IU Indy. His nine made field-goals on 12 attempts where his most made field-goals in a game in his career.

This marked the third time this season that McDaniel has scored in double-figures. He has started all 11 games this season for the Lions and has started 38 out of a possible 40 career games. This season, he is averaging 6.8 points per game while shooting 58.5% from the field in just 16.7 minutes a night.

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. 

Tennessee Tech Stats To Know
Tennessee Tech is led by sixth year head coach John Pelphrey. During the OVC Preseason Poll, the Golden Eagles were picked to finish in 11th place after going 10-21 a season ago. Currently, Tennessee Tech is coming of a 68-71 loss against Western Illinois on Tuesday. The Lions will take on Western Illinois inside Hyland Arena on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles are averaging 71.6 points per game this season and have scored at least 75 points four times this season. They are currently on a four-game losing skid coming into Thursday's game. Rodney Johnson Jr. is their leading scorer averaging 14.1 points per game while shooting 55.5% from the field and 43.8% from three-point range.

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 continues OVC play on Saturday as it marks the last game of the 2024 year. LU takes on Western Illinois at 3:30 p.m. CT inside Hyland Arena. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.