Game #30
Lindenwood (14-15, 9-9 OVC)
at Western Illinois (10-19, 4-14 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 25th, 2025
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Venue: Western Hall
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-2
Last Meeting: W, 71-65
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball ends the 2024-25 regular season this week with two games, starting off in Macomb, Ill. for a Tuesday match-up against the Leathernecks of Western Illinois at 7:30 p.m. CT in Western Hall. The Lions are looking to end the season strong as they are looking for higher seeding at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships.

Against the top-seeded Southeast Missouri State Redhawks, the Lion suffered a 74-58 loss in Cape Girardeau, Mo. on Saturday. Three Lions scored in double-figures against the Redhawks at the Show Me Center including a team-high 17 points from Markeith Browning II who shot 7-18 from the floor including two three-pointers. He has now had multiple three-pointers in three straight games which is the first time that has happened this season. Jadis Jones also scored 11 points in the loss. The New Madrid, Mo. native shot 5-11 from the floor while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Reggie Bass also had 10 points while freshman center Aly Tounkara added six rebounds. Tounkara had a double-double against Little Rock in their overtime win.

The Lions and Leathernecks have not played since the first weekend of the OVC season in Hyland Arena as the Lions picked up a 71-65 victory. Browning II (18 points) and Jones (17 points) combined for 35 points in the win. Western Illinois still holds the all-time record against LU with a 2-1 record.

After 18 games through OVC play, Lindenwood has averaged 69.1 points per game while shooting 41.0% from the field. Four different Lions are averaging at least 13.0 points in OVC play making them the only team to have four top 20 scorers in the conference.

Western Illinois is coached by second-year head man Chad Boudreau. Boudreau has coached the Leathernecks to a 10-19 record this season after having a successful first season at the helm last season with a 21-12 record.

Player to Watch
Freshman Jadis Jones is the Lions' third leading scorer this season after averaging 12.3 ppg. Jones is shooting 53.8% from the floor this season while ranking second on the team in made field-goals with 133. On Monday, he earned his 11th OVC Freshman of the Week award tying him for the OVC record set during the 2002-03 season by Matt Witt at Eastern Kentucky.

An active rebounder, Jones leads the team in rebounds per game averaging 6.0 per game. Jones had a career day vs. Southern Indiana after scoring a career-high 27 points in an overtime win last weekend. Jones has scored in double-figures 20 times this season and the Lions are 11-9 in those 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 Western Illinois
Western Illinois enters Tuesday's matchup with a 4-14 OVC record and were officially knocked out of the OVC Championships last week. As a team they average 67.7 points per game while shooting 43.4% from the field and 37.2% from three.

Marko Maletic is the Leathernecks' leading scorer averaging 16.6 points per game while shooting 46.2% from the field and 47.1% from three which ranks second in the NCAA.

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 end the 2024-25 regular season at Tennessee Tech on Saturday, March 1st at 3:30 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.