Game #28
Lindenwood (8-19, 2-12 OVC)
vs. UT Martin (17-10, 10-4 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-2
Last Meeting: L, 67-76
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch
Radio: Listen

Matchup
The Lindenwood men's basketball team returns to Hyland Arena for their last two home games of the season as they take on the Skyhawks of UT Martin on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Lions are currently on a five game losing streak and are looking to bounce back at home.

The Lions are coming off a loss on the road against the Panthers of Eastern Illinois by a final score of 72-57. Jaylon McDaniel led the way for Lindenwood scoring 10 points, his sixth time in double-figures. Lindenwood has averaged only 59.8 points per game during their five game losing skid.

UT Martin is currently in a three-way tie for second place in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 10-4 conference record. The Skyhawks have won three in a row marking the second longest win streak in the OVC. UTM defeated Lindenwood in Martin, Tenn. earlier this season by a final score of 76-67.

During OVC competition, the Lions are averaging 62.1 ppg which ranks 11th among all OVC teams. They are shooting 38.7% during those games which also ranks 11th. Throughout the entire season, LU is averaging 64.7 points a game behind the Lion's two leading scorers Keenon Cole (18.4 ppg) and Darius Beane (12.2 ppg). The duo combines for 47.3% of Lindenwood's scoring.

To begin the season, the Lions were picked to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference as they begin their second Division I season in program history under head coach Kyle Gerdeman.

Player to Watch
Keenon Cole has been the leading scorer for the Lions all season averaging 18.4 points in his senior season. The two-year forward has started all 27 games scoring in double-digits in all but one game this season which happened last Saturday as Eastern Illinois (9 points, 1-11 FG).

Cole has scored over 20 points 10 times this season including six times in conference play. He scored a career-high 42 points earlier this season in at win at SEMO and was named OVC Player of the Week and USBWA National Player of the Week. Cole is coming of a 14-point and 10 rebound performance at SIUE and a nine point performance at EIU.

In the OVC, Cole ranks third in scoring only behind UT Martin's Jordan Sears (19.9 ppg) and MSU's Riley Minix (20.3). He also ranks 8th in rebounding (6.4 rpg), 8th in FG% (41.0%), 9th in FT% (81.0%) and third in minutes played (34.2 mpg).

OVC Preseason Rankings
In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head men's basketball coaches and communication directors, Morehead State has been picked the preseason favorites for the 2023-24 season. It marks the second-straight year the Eagles have been tabbed the favorites.
 
The Eagles picked up 20 of 22 first-place votes (teams could not vote for themselves); Tennessee State picked up the other votes.  MSU tallied 200 points and was followed by SIUE (162), who was picked second. Tennessee State (153) was picked third and followed by UT Martin (149), Southeast Missouri (124), Tennessee Tech (120), Little Rock (85), Western Illinois (80), Southern Indiana (63), Lindenwood (40) and Eastern Illinois (34).

Scouting UT Martin
The Skyhawks are led by third-year head coach Ryan Ridder. Ridder has a career record of 44-46 with an OVC record of 24-26. UT Martin is averaging 80.3 ppg this season which ranks first in the OVC and tied for 40th national though their defense allows 76.3 which ranks last in the conference.

Jordan Sears leads the UT Martin squad this season averaging 19.9 ppg which ranks second in the OVC. His 44.6% shooting from the field ranks sixth while his running mate Jacob Crews (18.3 ppg) ranks third shooting 48.7%. As a team, the Skyhawks shoot 44.3% from the floor.

Head Coach: Kyle Gerdeman
Kyle Gerdeman enters his fifth year at the helm of the Lindenwood men's basketball program in the 2023-24 season. The Lions concluded their inaugural Division I season in 2022-23 where Gerdeman led the Lions to an appearances in the OVC Tournament after a wild finish to the season.

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).  Chris Childs held the top spot in the league with a free-throw percentage of 92.7, while Keenon 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
The Lions end their home schedule with a matchup against the Trojans of Little Rock on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 3:30 p.m. CT for Senior Day. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.