MOREHEAD, Ky. - Lindenwood men's basketball (8-11, 2-5 OVC) dropped their second road game this week after a 82-65 loss at Morehead State (12-7, 7-1 OVC). The Lions were out-scored 42-27 in the second half, and fall to 0-9 on the road this season.
Jadis Jones put together another good game for Lindenwood after scoring a team-high 16 points on 4-8 shooting including a perfect 8-8 at the foul line. Jones also pulled down four rebounds (three offensive rebounds) and a team-best two blocks.
Markeith Browning II also scored in double-figures with 12 points on 4-12 shooting. The graduate student also had four rebounds and a team-high three assists. As a team, Lindenwood was held to four total assists which marked their lowest of the season.
Nathan Johnson Jr. also added 10 points off the bench. Johnson Jr. was able to go 3-5 from the field including 2-3 from long range. After recent success from three-point range, Lindenwood struggled from behind the arc going 3-14 (21.4%).
Lindenwood shot over 50.0% in the first half, but fell to 40.4% from the field overall after the final 20 minutes of the game. Morehead State was able to shoot 30-59 from the field (50.8%), including 11-23 from three-point range.
The Lions were forced in 14 turnovers on Saturday which resulted in 17 points for the Eagles. Morehead State got a big boost from their bench as they scored 41 points compared to just 18 points for the Lions. LU was also out-rebounded 31-26 including allowing 11 offensive boards.
Early in the first half, Morehead State opened up a seven-point lead at the 15:31 mark with a score of 14-7. Lindenwood responded over the next five minutes going on a 10-1 run to take their first lead of the game at 19-18.
The Lions would stretch out their lead to as many as six points (34-28) in the first half with 4:56 remaining, but the Eagles stormed back late in the half. MSU went on a 12-4 run capped of by a Kade Ruegsegger three with a minute remaining as MSU led 40-38 heading into halftime.
Jones scored 10 of his 16 points in the first half shooting a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. The Lions shot 52.4% from the field over that stretch, but still found themselves trailing by two. Seven different Eagles had at least five points in the first 20 minutes of action.
The Lions started out the half slow shooting the ball as MSU went on a 9-2 run to open up a 49-40 lead over the Lions with 15:47 remaining. Lindenwood cut the lead down to as few as five with 13:13 left to play, but Morehead State took another 14-5 run to stretch the lead out to 14.
Morehead State was much more efficient in the second half shooting 16-25 from the floor (64.0%) and 6-10 from three as they were able to dig out a 17-point victory over the Lions. Lindenwood went 24-27 from the free throw line on Saturday, their second most made FT in a game and highest percentage of the season (88.9%).
The Lions return home to Hyland Arena on Thursday, Jan. 23rd to start a four-game home stand starting with the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.
