Game #14
Lindenwood (6-7, 1-1 OVC)
at Eastern Illinois (4-8, 0-1 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Jan. 2nd, 2024
Location: Charleston, Ill.
Venue: Groniger Arena
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-3
Last Meeting: L, 57-72
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball will hit the road for the first time in Ohio Valley Conference play as they take on Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 2nd at 7:30 p.m. CT in Charleston, Ill. Lindenwood picked up their first OVC win of the season right before break with a 71-65 victory over Western Illinois inside Hyland Arena. LU enters their game vs. the Panthers with a 6-7 overall record.

Against the Leathernecks, Lindenwood shot just shy of 50.0% from the field (48.2%) while holding WIU to 42.9% from the field. Markeith Browning II was the leading scorer for the Lions for the second consecutive game after scoring 18 against Western on 5-18 shooting while going 6-9 at the foul line. Jadis Jones continued his dominant freshman season after tying his career-high with 17 points on 8-13 shooting while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. Lindenwood was fierce on the glass out-rebounded WIU 37-28 while grabbing 11 offensive rebounds.

Eastern Illinois currently holds the all-time series lead against Lindenwood since joining the OVC during the 2022-23 season. The Panthers have won the last two games against LU with the Lions' lone winning coming on Feb. 2nd, 2023 by a score of 80-67.

Lindenwood averages 64.7 points per game against the Panthers in four contests. Lindenwood is scoring 74.2 points per game this season, good for fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference. LU scored 73 points in their OVC opener last Thursday against Tennessee Tech. The Lions scored over 70 points in OVC play only four times last season. As a team, Lindenwood is shooting 45.6% from the field and allowing opponents to shoot 41.8%. The Lions defense has been active to start the season as they hold the second highest turnover margin in the OVC at 3.46 which would rank 42nd in the country.

Eastern Illinois is coached by fourth-year head coach Mary Simmons. Last season, Simmons led the Panthers to the OVC Tournament for the first time in his career after posting a 14-18 overall record and a 8-10 OVC record. Simmons coached first-team OVC selection Tiger Booker last season while leading EIU to their first OVC Tournament Appearance since the 2019-20 season.

Player to Watch
Markeith Browning II has been a dynamic play-maker for the Lions as he enters Thursday's contest as the Lions' leading scorer averaging 12.6 points per game. The graduate student is shooting 36.2% from the floor while going 27-37 at the foul line.

He is averaging a team-best 3.4 assists per game and has had seven games this season where he has dished out at least three assists including five against IU Indy. Browning leads the OVC in steals per game (2.4) and total steals with 31 after posting seven vs. TTU.

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. 

Eastern Illinois Stats To Know
Eastern Illinois is averaging 71.1 points per game during the 2024-25 season. The Panthers have played just one conference match this season when they fell at Southeast Missouri State by a final score of 72-79. EIU is coming off a 99-55 win over Blackburn on the 28th.

Nakyel Shelton is the second leading scorer in the OVC after averaging 18.1 points per game this season while shooting 42.% from the floor. Shelton has reached over 20 points in a game twice this season including 26 vs. NIU. Kooper Jacobi 14.5 points and 9.1 rebounds this season.

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 their weekend road-trip as they head across the Mississippi to Edwardsville, Ill. to take on SIUE on Saturday, Jan. 4th at 3:30 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.