Game #23
Lindenwood (10-12, 5-6 OVC)
vs. Eastern Illinois (7-15, 3-8 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 1st, 2025
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 3:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-4
Last Meeting: L, 74-78 (OT)
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball closes out their four game home stand with a match-up against the Panthers of Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 1st at 3:30 p.m. CT. The Lions concluded their January with a win against SIUE marking their first victory over the Cougars. LU posted a record of 4-5 during the month of January.

Thursday action saw the Lions overcome a 17-point deficit inside Hyland Arena against SIUE by a final score of 65-63. Reggie Bass was clutch scoring a season-high 20 points in the win including a perfect 4-4 performance from behind the three-point line. Four different Lions scored in double figures including Jadis Jones with 11 rebounds. Aly Tounkara was huge off the bench posting a team-high 10 rebounds, his first double-digit rebounding effort in his young career. Anias Futrell also added 10 points and nine rebounds as the Lions moved to 5-6 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Lindenwood held SIUE to 27.8% shooting from the floor in the second half.

Coming into Saturday's game, Eastern Illinois holds the all-time record against the Lions at 4-1. Lindenwood's last win against the Panthers came during their inaugural Division I season after LU defeated EIU 80-67. During their last meeting earlier this season, LU lost in overtime in Charleston by a final score of 78-74, Markeith Browning II scored 21 in the loss.

Midway through OVC play, Lindenwood has averaged 67.3 points per game while shooting 40.9% from the field. Anias Futrell is the eighth leading scorer in OVC play after averaging 15.0 ppg shooting 35.0% from the floor and 27.3% from three. Browning II also ranks 12th in OVC points averaging 13.7 ppg. 

Eastern Illinois is coached by Marty Simmons who enters his fourth season at the helm in Charleston, Ill. Coming into Saturday's game, the Panthers are winners of their last two (vs. Little Rock and at Western Illinois).

Player to Watch
Markeith Browning II has been a dynamic play-maker for the Lions as he enters Saturday's contest as the Lions' second leading scorer averaging 12.6 points per game. The graduate student is shooting 35.9% from the floor while going 59-84 at the foul line.

He is averaging a team-best 3.7 assists per game and has had 14 games this season where he has dished out at least three assists including eight against SEMO. Browning ranks tied for fourth in the OVC in steals per game (1.8) and has a total of 38 steals 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. 

Scouting Eastern Illinois
The Panthers come into Saturday's showdown with a 7-15 record overall including a 3-8 OVC record. Eastern Illinois comes into Hyland Arena on a two game win streak after defeating Little Rock and Western Illinois.

EIU currently averages 68.2 points per game while shooting 42.8% from the field and 32.1% from three as a team. They are led by leading scorer Nakyel Shelton who averages 16.9 points per game. He missed the last game against Lindenwood earlier this season. Kooper Jacobi also averages 13.2 ppg and 9.6 rpg.

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 travel to Martin, Tenn. next week for a meeting against the Skyhawks of UT Martin starting at 7:30 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.