Lindenwood men’s basketball (10-12, 5-6 OVC) completed a dramatic 17-point second-half comeback win over the SIUE Cougars (14-8, 7-5 OVC) by the final score of 65-63, in front of a packed Hyland Arena crowd to improve to 9-2 at home this season and keep their hopes of making the OVC tournament alive.
Reggie Bass led the way scoring a season-high 20 points on 5/7 shooting, including a perfect 4/4 from downtown and 6/8 from the free-throw line. He has now scored over 10+ points eight times, and his first in his last four games. Jadis Jones tallied 11 points on the night, 10 of which came in the second half. Anias Futrell and Markeith Browning II were the final double-digit scorers for Lindenwood each tallying 10 points in the win. Despite not being able to knock down a three-point attempt (0-7 3FG), Futrell found different ways to score especially on the offensive glass adding five of his nine rebounds on offense. He also led the team on Thursday with three steals. Browning added five rebounds, four assists, and a season-high three blocks.
Aly Tounkara had his first double-digit rebounding effort of his young career grabbing 10 rebounds, having five points, two steals, and two blocks.
The first half saw both teams trade buckets for much of the first half as the Cougars led 19-18 at the under-eight media timeout. Out of the timeout, the Cougars would go on a 15-4 run capped by a pair of baskets made by Brian Taylor II to give the Cougars a commanding 34-22 lead with 2:51 left. SIUE would continue to keep Lindenwood at bay not allowing them to get within single digits and take a 39-26 lead into the break. Bass and Futrell led the way in the first half with 10 points each.
Lindenwood came out fast in the second half going on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to nine at 45-36 behind baskets from Jordan Wildy, Browning, and Tounkara. Lindenwood would go on a pair of 5-0 runs combined with precise offense and swarming defense to cut the Cougars lead to three at 49-46 with 10:45 to play. Both teams would then go ice cold from the field, neither team able to deliver a decisive blow. Myles Thompson would make a layup for SIUE but Clayton Jackson would answer with a three-pointer to cut the lead to two at 51-49 with 8:01 left. The lead would be cut to one at 52-51 following a Tounkara put-back shot with 6:04 remaining.
Lindenwood would regain the lead for the first time since the first half, after a wild sequence that took place giving Bass a shot at four free throw attempts. He would make all four giving the Lions a 57-55 lead with four minutes remaining. This was a lead the Lions would not give up as SIUE trailed by four after two made free throws by Jones put the Lions ahead 64-60 with 10 seconds left. The Cougars got a three-pointer to fall with under three seconds left putting Bass at the line after a quick foul. He would make the first and miss the second, and SIUE’s full-court heave dropped short as LU picked up the 65-63 victory. The Lions held SIUE to 27.8% shooting in the second half outscoring them 39-24 in the comeback win.
The Lions will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 1 as they play host to the Eastern Illinois Panthers starting at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
