Lindenwood men’s basketball (6-7, 1-1 OVC) picked up their first conference win of the year over the Western Illinois Leathernecks (7-6, 1-1 OVC) by a score of 71-65 bouncing back after a tough loss on Thursday to Tennessee Tech. The win was the first win over the Leathernecks in Lindenwood history.
Markeith Browning II led the way for the Lions finishing with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Freshman Jadis Jones had 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a steal to aid in the win. Rebounding was a big key to the Lions victory as they outrebounded the Leathernecks 37-28 including 11-8 on the offensive glass. Lindenwood had 14 second-chance points on the afternoon. Reggie Bass was the third Lion in double-figures with 10 points and 4 assists. Lindenwood also got great production from their bench led by Nate Johnson Jr and Jordan Wildy. Johnson had nine points, including a clutch three late in the second half, and 4 steals. Wildy chipped in with six points, five rebounds, and three assists. The Lions also had a massive advantage in the paint outsourcing the Leathernecks 44-32 in the paint.
Both teams traded blows in the opening minutes seeing the Leathernecks up 13-12 at the first media timeout with 14:35 left in the first half. Browning had five early points off a three and a layup for the Lions. Johnson Jr drove in for a layup to make it 14-13 and never trailed again. The Lions went on a 10-2 run in the final five minutes to extend their halftime lead to 36-25. The Lions shot 16/31 from the floor in the first half while holding WIU to 9/27. Jones had 10 points and five rebounds going into the break.
Lindenwood extended their lead to 15 early in the second half, following two free throws from Browning to make it 43-28. Lindenwood kept the Leathernecks at bay for most of the second half being able to answer any bucket from Western Illinois with a bucket of their own. With 9:09 left the Lions led 58-47 before the Leathernecks went on an 18-8 run over the next eight minutes to cut the lead to 66-65 following a layup from Marko Maletic off a Browning turnover forcing Lindenwood to take a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Lions dialed up an open three-point from Johnson Jr who buried it extending the Lions lead to 69-65 with 0:54 left. Johnson Jr would a pair of free throws with 0:18 left to extend the Lions lead to 71-65 as the Lions held the Leathernecks scoreless in the final minute and closed out their first OVC win of the year. Johnson Jr scored five of his nine points in the final minute of the game. The Lions were much improved down the stretch on Saturday going 7/8 from the charity stripe in the final eight minutes.
Lindenwood will be back in action on Jan. 2 as they begin a two-game road trip first heading to Eastern Illinois and SIUE before returning home on Jan. 9 for a matchup against Tennessee State.
