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Don Adams Jr.

Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball Battles Western Illinois On Saturday

Lions dropped their OVC opener vs. TTU by a score of 79-33

Game #13
Lindenwood (5-7, 0-1 OVC)
vs. Western Illinois (7-5, 1-0 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Dec. 21st, 2024
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 3:30 p.m. CT 
All-Time Series: 0-2
Last Meeting: L, 71-79
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball closes out the 2024 portion of their schedule with a match-up against Western Illinois on Saturday, Dec. 21st at 3:30 p.m. CT inside Hyland Arena. The Lions are coming off their first Ohio Valley Conference game of the season where they lost to Tennessee Tech by a final score of 79-73.

The Lions shot 44.9% against TTU but were held to 40.5% in the second half. LU had three double-digit scorers in the loss including 19 from Reggie Bass. He has now scored in double-figures in four straight games. Markeith Browning also had 17 points and seven steals, the most in a single game at LU since the 2019-20 season. Jaylon McDaniel also chipped in 12 points after posting 22-points against IU Indy last week.

Western Illinois currently holds the all-time series record winning the first two match-ups last season. WIU joined the OVC last season after previously playing in the Summit League. In their last meeting, in St. Charles, Lindenwood fell 79-71. McDaniel in that game went a perfect 5-5 from the field, scoring 12 points.

Lindenwood is scoring 74.7 points per game this season, good for fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference. LU scored 73 points in their OVC opener last Thursday. The Lions scored over 70 points in OVC play only four times last season. As a team, Lindenwood is shooting 45.4% from the field and allowing opponents to shoot 41.8%. The Lions defense has been active to start the season as they hold the highest turnover margin in the OVC at 3.83 which would rank 35th in the country.

Western Illinois is coached by second-year head coach Chad Boudreau. Last season, Boudreau led the Leathernecks to a 21-12 overall record which marked their most wins in a single season since 2012-13. He also was a finalist for the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year award which is given to the top first-year head coach in Division I college basketball.

Player to Watch
Reggie Bass is coming off his best game of the season vs. TTU after scoring a season-high 19 points against the Golden Eagles. Bass has now scored in double-figures five times this year including four straight after dropping 14 points vs. IU Indy last week.

The former MAC Freshman of the Year is averaging 9.2 points per game while shooting 38.3% from the floor and 31.0% from three. Against IU Indy, Bass had 14 points while adding a season-high seven rebounds and six assists. His 16 made threes also leads the team.

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. 

Western Illinois Stats To Know
Western Illinois is averaging 71.4 points per game this season as they have posted a 7-5 record to start the season through 12 games. Earlier this week on Tuesday, the Leathernecks defeated Tennessee Tech by a final score of 71-68.

Marko Maletic is the Leathernecks' leading scorer this season averaging 16.4 points per game on 47.9% shooting from the field and 44.6% from three. He has scored in double-figures 10 times this season including a season-high 24 points against South Dakota.

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 over a week off before returning to action on Thursday, Jan. 2nd against Eastern Illinois in Charleston. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.
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Players Mentioned

Keenon Cole

#24 Keenon Cole

F
6' 7"
Senior
Jaylon McDaniel

#5 Jaylon McDaniel

F
6' 7"
Senior
Reggie Bass

#2 Reggie Bass

G
6' 3"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Keenon Cole

#24 Keenon Cole

6' 7"
Senior
F
Jaylon McDaniel

#5 Jaylon McDaniel

6' 7"
Senior
F
Reggie Bass

#2 Reggie Bass

6' 3"
Junior
G