Men’s Basketball Set for Showdown at Eastern Illinois This Thursday!

Game #14

Lindenwood (6-7, 1-1 OVC)

at Eastern Illinois (4-8, 0-1 OVC)

Match Information:

Date: Thursday, Jan. 2nd, 2024

Location: Charleston, Ill.

Venue: Groniger Arena

Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. CT

All-Time Series: 1-3

Last Meeting: L, 57-72

Live Stats: Stats

Live Video: Watch

Matchup

Lindenwood men’s basketball will embark on their first away game in Ohio Valley Conference action, facing Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 2nd at 7:30 p.m. CT in Charleston, Ill. Lindenwood secured their inaugural OVC victory of the season right before the break, triumphing 71-65 over Western Illinois at Hyland Arena. LU approaches their game against the Panthers with an overall record of 6-7.

In the contest against the Leathernecks, Lindenwood shot just below 50.0% from the field (48.2%), while limiting WIU to 42.9% from the field. Markeith Browning II emerged as the top scorer for the Lions for the second straight game, netting 18 points against Western on 5-18 shooting and converting 6-9 from the free-throw line. Jadis Jones maintained his impressive freshman campaign, tying his career-high with 17 points on 8-13 shooting and securing a team-best eight rebounds. Lindenwood was dominant on the boards, out-rebounding WIU 37-28 and grabbing 11 offensive rebounds.

Currently, Eastern Illinois possesses the series advantage over Lindenwood since both teams entered the OVC in the 2022-23 season. The Panthers have clinched victory in the last two encounters with LU, the Lions’ solitary win registered on Feb. 2nd, 2023, by a score of 80-67.

Lindenwood averages 64.7 points per game against the Panthers across four matchups. This season, Lindenwood is scoring 74.2 points per game, ranking fifth within the Ohio Valley Conference. LU put together a total of 73 points in their OVC opener last Thursday against Tennessee Tech. The Lions exceeded 70 points only four times in OVC play last season. As a whole, Lindenwood is shooting 45.6% from the field and permitting its opponents a shooting rate of 41.8%. The Lions’ defense has shown vigor since the start of the season, possessing the second-highest turnover margin in the OVC at 3.46, positioning them at 42nd nationally.

Eastern Illinois is led by fourth-year head coach Mary Simmons. Last season, under Simmons’ guidance, the Panthers reached the OVC Tournament for the first time in his tenure, concluding with a 14-18 overall record and an 8-10 mark in the OVC. Simmons coached first-team OVC pick Tiger Booker during the previous season while steering EIU to their first appearance in the OVC Tournament since the 2019-20 season.

Player to Watch

Markeith Browning II has been an electric playmaker for the Lions as he approaches Thursday’s matchup as the Lions’ leading scorer, averaging 12.6 points per game. The graduate student is shooting 36.2% from the field and 27-37 from the free-throw line.

He averages a team-high 3.4 assists per game and has recorded seven games this season where he has delivered at least three assists, including five against IU Indy. Browning leads the OVC in steals per game (2.4) and total steals with 31, following a seven-steal performance against TTU.

OVC Preseason Rankings

In a poll conducted among Ohio Valley Conference head men’s basketball coaches and communication directors, Little Rock has been named the preseason favorites for the 2024-25 season. Lindenwood was selected to finish ninth, garnering 67 points, their highest since becoming part of the OVC.

Little Rock received 20 of the 22 first-place votes within the conference. Western Illinois (172 points), SIUE (151 points, two first-place votes), and Tennessee State (134 points) completed the top four in the OVC. The defending OVC champions Morehead State were predicted to finish fifth, followed by Eastern Illinois, SEMO, Southern Indiana, Lindenwood, UT Martin, and Tennessee Tech.

The Ohio Valley Conference also identified two ‘Players To Watch’ from each OVC institution to commence the upcoming season. Talton and newcomer Browning were designated as Lindenwood’s players to watch for the 2024-25 season.

Eastern Illinois Stats To Know

Eastern Illinois is averaging 71.1 points per game throughout the 2024-25 season. The Panthers have participated in only one conference match this season, where they lost to Southeast Missouri State with a final score of 72-79. EIU comes off a commanding 99-55 victory over Blackburn on the 28th.

Nakyel Shelton ranks as the second leading scorer in the OVC, averaging 18.1 points per game this season with a shooting percentage of 42%. Shelton has surpassed 20 points in a game on two occasions this season, including 26 against NIU. Kooper Jacobi contributes 14.5 points and 9.1 rebounds this season.

Head Coach: Kyle Gerdeman

Kyle Gerdeman is commencing his sixth season at the helm of the Lindenwood men’s basketball program in 2024-25.

During the 2023-24 season, Gerdeman guided Keenon Cole to second team all-conference accolades. The Streamwood, Ill. native averaged 18.1 points per game, placing fourth in the OVC. Cole achieved a career-high 42 points in a 74-68 road victory against SEMO on January 11. For his effort, Cole was recognized as the OVC Player of the Week and acknowledged as one of the Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week.

 

In the 2022-23 season, Lindenwood secured a position in the OVC Championship tournament following a tumultuous finish to the year.  The Lions defeated in-state rival Southeast Missouri State in double overtime to sustain their postseason aspirations.  In the final regular season game, Lindenwood required a victory to advance, and Kevin Caldwell Jr. rose to the occasion with a decisive bucket in overtime.

 

Lindenwood led the OVC with a free-throw percentage of 75.6 and ranked second in three-point percentage (39.1) during the 2022-23 season.  Chris Childs topped the league with a free-throw percentage of 92.7, while Cole led the OVC in three-point shooting at 51.0 percent.  As a unit, the Lions achieved three wins in overtime throughout the season and orchestrated two comebacks from 20 points down, as well as another 17-point comeback during OVC play.

Up Next

Lindenwood continues their weekend journey as they cross the Mississippi to Edwardsville, Ill. to face SIUE on Saturday, Jan. 4th at 3:30 p.m. CT. For further details, please visit lindenwoodlions.com.