Game #19
Lindenwood (8-10, 3-4 OVC)
at Morehead State (11-7, 6-1 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Jan.18th, 2025
Location: Morehead, Ky.
Venue: Johnson Arena
Tip-Off: 2:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-3
Last Meeting: L, 49-67
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball continues their road trip on Saturday when they take on Morehead State in Johnson Arena at 2:30 p.m. CT. Lindenwood enters the contest with a 3-4 Ohio Valley Conference record which is good for 7th in the conference. LU's two-game OVC win streak was ended on Thursday at Southern Indiana.

Thursday OVC action saw the Lions fall at Liberty Arena in Evansville, Ind. to the Screaming Eagles of Southern Indiana by a final score of 73-80. Jadis Jones had a career-day on Thursday with a career-high in points (21) and rebounds (11). The five-time OVC Freshman of the Week shot 8-12 from the floor while adding a team-high three assists. Reggie Bass made his return on Thursday posting 15 points and four rebounds.

During their last meeting to end the 2023-24 regular season, Lindenwood fell at Morehead State by a final score of 67-49. Nathan Johnson Jr. had eight points in the contest last season while adding four rebounds. Morehead State leads the all-time series 3-0 including a perfect 2-0 at home.

To start OVC play, Lindenwood has averaged 70.3 points per game while shooting 42.0% from the field. Their points per game in OVC competitions also ranks fourth so far. Anias Futrell is the third leading scorer in OVC play after averaging 18.8 ppg shooting 36.8% from the floor and 33.3% from three. Browning II also ranks seventh in OVC points averaging 15.9 ppg. Aly Tounkara leads the OVC with 10 blocks during conference play.

Morehead State is coached by first-year head man Jonathan Mattox who became the 15th head coach in program history. He previously spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at MSU. Mattox has led the Eagles to an 11-7 start including a 6-1 OVC record. The Eagles have one of the better defenses in the OVC allowing just 68.6 points per game this season.

Player to Watch
Freshman Jadis Jones is the Lions' third leading scorer this season after averaging 11.4 ppg. Jones is shooting 55.1% from the floor this season while ranking second on the team in made field-goals with 81. An active rebounder, Jones leads the team in rebounds per game averaging 6.6 per game.

Jones had a career day vs. Southern Indiana after scoring a career-high 21 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. He has two double-doubles this season while being named the OVC Freshman of the Week five times.

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. 

Scouting Morehead State
Morehead State currently is averaging 68.6 points per game this season and 63.7 points per game in OVC play, but lead the conference with a 6-1 record. Against OVC schools, the Eagles are allowing the fewest points per game with an average of 62.1.

Kenny White Jr. has been the Eagles leading scorer this season averaging 13.9 points per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 42.3% from three. Jerone Morton is the other Eagle to average over 10.0 ppg. Morton averages 12.3 ppg while grabbing 3.8 rebounds.

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 returns home to Hyland Arena on Thursday, Jan. 23rd with a matchup against in-state rival Southeast Missouri State at 7:30 p.m. CT. This also starts a stretch of four straight home games for the Lions. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.