SCOTT MANDZIARA | Reporter

Lindenwood men’s basketball fell to the top seed in the MIAA, Northwest Missouri State, 78-58 in Maryville, Missouri.

In the Saturday game, Northwest Missouri shot 59.6 percent  from the field. The team is the MIAA leaders in field goal percentage as it averages shooting the ball 52 percent per game. Leading the way for Northwest Missouri was senior forward Brett Doughtery who finished with 17 points. Doughtery’s 17 points was his second-highest point total of the season. 

Lindenwood’s offense struggled in the first half as they were outscored 43-18 and held to 29 percent from the field.

The Lions have been a second-half team all season as they averaged 32.8 points in the first half as opposed to 41.1 points in the second half where they outscored Northwest Missouri 40-35. 

Lindenwood junior guard Chandler Diekvoss lead the way with 19 points on shooting and tied the team lead with five rebounds.

Junior guards Brad Newman and Adam Pohlman finished with nine points each. Newman shot 26 percent and Pohlman shot 50 percent from the field. This was the first game where junior guard Jackson Price didn’t record a 3-pointer since Lindenwood’s game against Hannibal-LaGrange where Price only played 13 minutes.

The Lions will return home to the Hyland Arena on Saturday, Feb. 10, to take on the Lincoln University Blue Tigers. The game starts at 3:30 p.m.