Game #25
Lindenwood (11-13, 6-7 OVC)
at Tennessee State (11-13, 7-6 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 8th, 2025
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Gentry Center
Tip-Off: 3:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-4
Last Meeting: W, 72-62
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball picked up their first road win of the season on Thursday after defeating UT Martin 52-51 in Martin, Tenn. The Lions now sit at 11-13 for the season, tying their Division I record in wins (11) and Ohio Valley Conference wins (6). Coming into Saturday's game, Lindenwood sits in seventh in the OVC standings while Tennessee State ranks sixth.

On the road against UT Martin, late game heroic from Reggie Bass gave Lindenwood the one-point victory. With 16 seconds left, Bass hit a three to tie the game plus the foul, which he would make to complete the four-point play. Lindenwood's defense would make two stops on the other end to secure the Lions' first road victory. Clayton Jackson scored a career-best 16 points on 6-12 shooting including three three-pointers. Jadis Jones also added his third double-double of the season scoring 11 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. It marked the lowest FG% (27.1%) in a win in program history.

During their last meeting in St. Charles, Mo., Lindenwood captured a 72-62 win over the Tigers in early January. Anias Futrell had himself a game last time these two schools met after scoring 24 points on 7-17 from the floor including four three-pointers. Johnson Jr. and Markeith Browning II both had double-digit points as the Lions picked up the win at home.

After 13 games through OVC play, Lindenwood has averaged 66.3 points per game while shooting 39.6% from the field. Markeith Browning II is eight in OVC scoring averaging 14.3 points per game. His average of 3.5 assists per game in conference competition also ranks fourth.

Tennessee State is coached by Brian "Penny" Collins who enters his seventh season at the helm for the Tigers. Collins has coached his team to a 7-6 conference record this season and are coming off an 18-point victory over Western Illinois on Thursday.

Player to Watch
Freshman Jadis Jones is the Lions' third leading scorer this season after averaging 11.5 ppg. Jones is shooting 52.3% from the floor this season while ranking second on the team in made field-goals with 102. An active rebounder, Jones leads the team in rebounds per game averaging 6.2 per game.

Jones had a career day vs. Southern Indiana after scoring a career-high 21 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. He is coming off an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double vs. UT Martin on Thursday. He has scored in double-figures 16 times including in three straight games vs. OVC teams. Earlier this season against TSU, Jones scored nine points while grabbing six rebounds.

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 Tennessee State
Tennessee State comes into this meeting against the Lions with a similar record at 11-13 including a 7-6 OVC record. The Tigers are currently leading the conference in points per game averaging 80.0 a night while also ranking first in rebounding averaging 41.5 a night.

Four Tigers are currently averaging double-figures including leading scorer Brandon Weston who ranks tied for third in the OVC scoring 16.0 a night. Aaron Nkrumah is also averaging 10.8 points per game while grabbing 5.1 rpg. Seven different Tigers are averaging at least four rebounds per game.

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 returns home for one final home stand as they host Morehead State and Southern Indiana starting on Thursday, Feb. 13th at 7:30 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.