Reggie Bass scored a season-high 30 points as the Lindenwood men’s basketball team (12-14, 7-8 OVC) picked up their 10th win inside Hyland Arena this season after defeating the Morehead State Eagles (14-12, 9-6 OVC) 73-60 on Thursday night.
The win was the first in program history over the Eagles, and keeps Lindenwood in seventh place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings and a firm three games up on ninth place Southern Indiana and Eastern Illinois.
Bass had his best game of the season and the most points in a game in his career since he dropped 40 his freshman year, when he was a part of the Central Michigan Chippewas. Bass shot 6/10 from the floor, including a trio of three pointers. Bass also made his presence known at the foul line converting 15/17 times from the charity stripe. Bass also hauled in six rebounds and had two steals.
Jadis Jones and Anias Futrell were the other two Lions in double figures with Jones scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds while Futrell had 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Lindenwood got off to a scorching hot start jumping out to a quick 11-2 lead at the first media timeout. A Bass three with 10:20 to go would give Lindenwood their first double-digit lead of the half and they would continue to pour it on the Eagles with swarming defense and efficient offense leading to a 33-16 halftime lead for Lindenwood. Bass would have 14 points in the first half by himself while the Lions held the Eagles to 16 total points on 6/26 shooting and forced 11 turnovers.
Out of the break, Lindenwood would continue to keep the Eagles at bay matching them shot for shot and keeping their 17-point lead halfway through the second half as Bass would score nine of the Lions 13 points out of halftime. Morehead State would cut the lead to 10 after finding their rhythm from three at 66-56 late in the second half but it wouldn’t be enough as after that Jones rattled off four straight points of his own to put the Lions back up 14 points. Free throw shooting closed out the game for the Lions as they defended home court for their seventh OVC victory.
The Lions will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. as they take on Southern Indiana at Hyland Arena for Senior Day.
