Game #32
#6 Lindenwood (15-16, 10-10 OVC)
vs. #7 Morehead State (15-16, 10-10 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Wednesday, Mar. 5th 2025
Location: Evansville,, Ind.
Venue: Ford Center
Tip-Off: 8:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-4
Last Meeting: W, 73-60
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood men's basketball makes their return to the Ohio Valley Conference Championships on Wednesday, March 5th as the number #6 seed to take on #7 Morehead State at 8:30 p.m. CT inside the Ford Center. This marks the second time the Lions have made the OVC Tournament, the first since their inaugural season in the OVC back during the 2022-23 season. LU finished the regular season with a 15-16 record including a 10-10 mark in conference play.

Jadis Jones leads a group of four double-digit scorers for the Lions after being named the OVC Freshman of the Week for the 12th time this season. Jones is tied for the team-lead in points per game averaging 12.7 during the regular season. He was named the OVC Freshman of the Week 12 times, breaking a 22 year old record held in the OVC by Matt Witt during the 2002-03 season from Eastern Kentucky. Jones also became the first Lion to lead the team in points per game during the NCAA era (2011-present).

Lindenwood and Morehead State split the season series this year with both teams winning their home games. The Lions hold an all-time record of 1-4 against MSU with their lone win come in their last match-up inside Hyland Arena by a final score of 73-60. Reggie Bass dropped a season-high 30 points against the Eagles on Feb. 13th after going 15-17 at the foul line, the most FT attempted and made in a game since Romelo Burrell went 15-18 during the 2021-22 season.

After 20 games through OVC play, Lindenwood has averaged 70.0 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 15 scorers in the conference.

Morehead State is coached by Jonathan Mattox who is in his first season as head coach. Mattox previously was on the staff as an assistant coach for the previous nine seasons helping MSU to 154 wins during that span.

Player to Watch
Markeith Browning II in his one-year with the Lions has helped the Lions back to the OVC Championships. The graduate student ranks third on the team averaging 12.5 ppg while shooting 37.0% from the field and 23.5% from three. He leads the team in assists this season with 110 (3.5 asp) which is also the most in LU's Division I era and the most since the 2018-19 season when Adam Pohlman had 160.

He is one of three Lions to play in all 31 games while making 30 starts. He has scored in double-figures 21 times including a 27-point performance against Eastern Illinois which marked his career-high. He has had double-figures and at least 3 assists in 11 games. Browning II also leads the way defensively with a team-high 48 steals including posting seven vs. Tennessee Tech on Dec. 19th.

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
The Eagles currently have the same record as the Lions coming into Wednesday's contest. Morehead State had lost their previous eight-games before winning their last game on Saturday, March 1st against UT Martin by a final score of 59-47.

Kenny White Jr. is the Eagles' leading scorer averaging 12.3 points per game while shooting 45.9% from the floor and 39.6% from three. Jerone Morton is Morehead State's second leading scorer averaging 10.5 a game. Lindenwood held Morton to 1-7 shooting during their last meeting.

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
The winner between #6 Lindenwood and #7 Morehead State will advance to the quarter-finals to play #3 Tennessee State on Thursday, March 6th at 8:30 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.