Game #15
Lindenwood (6-9, 1-3 OVC)
vs. Tennessee State (5-10, 1-3 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Jan. 9th, 2025
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-4
Last Meeting: L, 55-65
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball returns home to Hyland Arena on Thursday, Jan. 9th at 7:30 p.m. CT to take on the Tigers of Tennessee State. The Lions look to snap a two-game losing streak in Ohio Valley Conference play after dropping games and EIU and SIUE. Lindenwood enters the match-up against TSU with a 6-9 record and a 1-3 OVC record.

On Saturday, Lindenwood was held to a season-low 47 points in a loss to the Cougars of SIUE. Both teams were held under 35.0% from the field, but the Cougars managed to out-last the Lions come-back in the second half. Markeith Browning II was the only player in double-figures for the Lions scoring 16 points on 5-15 shooting. He also grabbed seven rebounds in the loss.

The Tennessee State Tigers hold the all-time record against LU with a perfect 4-0 record. Lindenwood is looking for their first ever win against TSU. During their last meeting in St. Charles, Mo., Lindenwood lost to TSU by a final score of 55-65. The Lions were held to 30.2% from the field in the loss and were led by former LU Lion Keenon Cole with 16 points.

To start OVC play, Lindenwood has averaged 66.3 points per game while shooting 40.3% from the field. Browning II is the fourth leading scorer in OVC play through four games averaging 18.8 ppg. Freshman stand-out Jadis Jones has averaged 7.0 rebounds per game in conference play including an average of 3.5 offensive rebounds.

Tennessee State is coached by Brian "Penny" Collins who enters his seventh season at the helm. In OVC play, the Tigers are averaging the most points scoring 75.8 ppg to start conference competition. They are also shooting a league-high 46.2% from the field against OVC teams. In Nashville last week, the Tigers are coming off their first win in OVC play against Little Rock by a final score of 95-86.

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 13.4 points per game. The graduate student is shooting 36.7% from the floor while going 37-51 at the foul line.

He is averaging a team-best 3.3 assists per game and has had eight games this season where he has dished out at least three assists including five against Eastern Illinois. Browning leads the OVC in steals per game (2.2) and total steals with 33 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. 

Tennessee State Stats To Know
Tennessee State leads the OVC in scoring offense after averaging 80.3 points per game through 15 games. TSU ranks 73rd in the country in scoring this season. The Tigers are coming off their first OVC win of the season after defeating Little Rock by a final score of 95-86.

Coming into Thursday's game, the Tigers are led by Brandon Weston who ranks third in the OVC in scoring after averaging 17.5 ppg. Weston is currently shooting 44.8% from the field and 23.9% from three. He also ranks second on their team in rebounding averaging 5.6 per game. He scored a season-high 33 points against Southern Indiana earlier this season, the second most by an OVC player 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 homestand on Saturday as they take on UT Martin in Hyland Arena starting at 3:30 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.