Game #26
Lindenwood (11-14, 6-8 OVC)
vs. Morehead State (14-11, 9-5 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Feb. 13th, 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, 65-82
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball returns to Robert F. Hyland Arena for their final two home games of the season on Thursday, Feb. 13th when they take on Morehead State at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Lions currently have a 9-3 record at home this season including a 5-3 Ohio Valley Conference home record. LU still sits in seventh place in the OVC while Morehead State ranks fourth.

During their last game on the road last Saturday at Tennessee State, the Lions fell 76-84 despite making 12 three-pointers tying their most in a game this season. Lindenwood had four double-digit scorers in the loss including a game-high 18 points from Anias Futrell. Futrell snapped his cold streak from three after draining four against Tennessee State. Reggie Bass off the bench scored 17-points shooting 4-13 from the floor and 7-9 at the foul line. Jordan Wildy and Markeith Browning II also scored 10 points each. Jadis Jones was also named the OVC Newcomer of the Week on Monday.

During their last meeting in Morehead, Ky., Lindenwood suffered an 82-65 loss against the Eagles. Jones scored 16 points in the loss while Browning and Nathan Johnson Jr. added 12 and 10 points respectively. Lindenwood is looking for their first win ever over MSU as they are 0-4 all-time.

After 14 games through OVC play, Lindenwood has averaged 67.0 points per game while shooting 39.6% from the field. Markeith Browning II is ninth in OVC scoring averaging 14.0 points per game. His average of 3.5 assists per game in conference competition also ranks fifth. Jones also ranks third in the conference in minutes per game averaging over 35 a night.

Morehead State is coached by first-year head coach Jonathan Maddox who has been with the program since the 2013-14 season as a graduate assistant. Maddox has coached the Eagles to a 14-11 record including a 9-5 OVC record.

Player to Watch
Anias Futrell has been the best Lindenwood three-point threat this season averaging just shy of two per game (1.6). He has made multiple threes in 10 games this season. After going 0-27 from deep in his last four games, Futrell responded on Saturday going 4-7 from three on his way to 18 points. Futrell has scored in double-figures 13 times this season and over 20 four times. He is also an active rebounder averaging 5.6 a game.

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 comes into Thursday's action on a three-game losing streak with all three taking place in Morehead, Ky. A defensive unit, the Eagles are allowing the third fewest points during OVC play this season at 66.0 ppg.

Kenny White Jr. is the Eagles' leading scorer averaging 12.9 points per game in 25 games played. White Jr. has been effective from the field making 46.5% of his shots while also draining 38.5% from three. Jerome Morton is also averaging double-digits for MSU at 11. ppg.

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 host Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 15th against Southern Indiana at 2:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.