Game #27
Lindenwood (12-14, 7-8 OVC)
vs. Southern Indiana (9-16, 4-11 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 15th, 2025
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 2:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-8
Last Meeting: L, 73-80
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball host Southern Indiana on Saturday, Feb. 15th at 2:00 p.m. CT for Senior Day and the final home game of the season. The Lions have been tough to beat at home with a 10-3 home record including 6-3 against Ohio Valley Conference opponents. LU remains in seventh in the conference, but has a three-game lead over ninth place.

The Lions secured their first win in program history over Morehead State on Thursday with a 73-60 victory over the Eagles. The win marked the most wins (12) and OVC wins (7) for Lindenwood in their Division I history. Reggie Bass scored a season-high 30 points in the win after going to the free throw line 17 times, making 16 of them. It marked the most made FT and FT attempts in a single game since the 2021-22 season. OVC Freshman of the Week Jadis Jones also scored 16 points on 7-8 shooting from the floor while grabbing a team-high six rebounds. Markeith Browning II did not score in the win, but he led the team with five assists.

During their last meeting in Evansville, Ind., Lindenwood suffered a 73-80 loss against the Screaming Eagles. Jones had a career-day in their last meeting scoring 21 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. Anias Futrell also had 17 points while making three threes.

After 15 games through OVC play, Lindenwood has averaged 67.4 points per game while shooting 40.3% from the field. Futrell is ninth in OVC scoring averaging 13.7 points per game. After Bass' 30 points vs. Morehead State, he is now averaging 12.9 ppg in OVC games as the Lions have three of the top 15 scorers in OVC play.

Southern Indiana is coached by Stan Gouard who is in his fifth year in Evansville. Since becoming the head coach, Gouard has a 6-1 record against the Lions, their only loss coming last year in Evansville, Ind.

Player to Watch
Reggie Bass is coming of his best game of the season against Morehead State after scoring a season-best 30 points. He is averaging 10.7 points per game this season while shooting 38.7% from the floor and 34.4% from three.

His 88 trips to the free throw line also rank second on the team and he is shooting 80.7 from the line after going 15-17 against Morehead State. He has scored in double-digits in four of his last five games.

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 Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana comes into Saturday's match-up averaging 71.9 points per game which is one spot higher than the Lions (sixth). They are surrendering 73.6 points per game which is the third most in the OVC.

There are a trio of Screaming Eagles that score in double-figures including Damoni Harrison who averages 15.1 ppg while shooting 42.5% from three. Jayland Randall also averages 14.9 ppg while Stephen Olowoniyi adds 13.6 per contest.

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 starts their final road stretch of the season as they will conclude the season with four straight away games. LU will be in Little Rock, Ark. next Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT to take on the Trojans. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.