CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Lindenwood men's basketball (14-15, 9-9 OVC) suffered their first loss in their last four games as they fell to in-state rival Southeast Missouri State (19-10, 14-4 OVC) by a final score of 74-58. The Lions will have two games remaining during the 2024-25 regular season to determine their seeding at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in two weeks.

Markeith Browning II led a trio of Lions to have double-figures in the loss. Browning scored a team-high 17 points on 7-18 shooting including two three-pointers. He also was one of four Lions to grab at least five rebounds after pulling down five and added a team-high two assists.

Jadis Jones continued his recent success on offense scoring 11 points marking the seventh time in the last eight games he has scored in double-figures, including four straight. The freshman forward shot 5-11 from the field and had a team-high seven rebounds. Lindenwood and SEMO were dead-even on the boards at 35 each.

Reggie Bass was the final Lion to reach double-figures after scoring 10 points. Despite shooting 1-10 from the floor, Bass went 8-11 at the free throw line. Lindenwood only shot 61.9% from the charity stripe after going 13-21. The Lions were also held to 33.3% shooting from the floor while SEMO shot 49.1%.

It was a low-scoring first half in Cape Girardeau as the Lions led by five points with 12:14 remaining in the first half by a score of 11-6.  The Redhawks stormed back with an 8-0 run to take the lead at 14-11. Lindenwood found themselves down by as many as seven (20-13) in the first half before making a push to take the lead at 21-20 with 3:48 left in the half.

Over the final three minutes, SEMO re-gained the lead as they went into the half leading 28-24. Lindenwood was held to 7-32 from the floor, but forced SEMO into seven turnovers. The Lions also got to the free throw line 13 times in the first half making eight of those. Browning II led all scored with 11 points.

To begin the second half at the Show Me Center, SEMO jumped out on a 9-2 run before the first media timeout to stretch their lead to double-figures at 37-26. The Redhawks maintained a double-digit lead until the 11:44 mark. After trailing 52-40, the Lions stormed back to cut the lead to one at 52-51 after a Jones layup.

Lindenwood's second half push came to a half as SEMO ended the final eight minutes of the game on a 22-7 run as they even the season series against the Lions. The Redhawks also continued their nine-game win streak in OVC play with their last loss coming at the hands of the Lions.

The Lions have a quick trip on Tuesday to Macomb, Ill. as they take on the Leathernecks of Western Illinois at 7:30 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.