ST. CHARLES MO- For the second time this season, a late-game surge proved decisive for the SIUE Cougars, who outlasted the Lindenwood Lions 78-72 Tuesday night at Hyland Arena.
Lindenwood (15-10, 9-5 Ohio Valley Conference) led 53-42 with 16:27 remaining, but SIUE (16-9, 9-5 OVC) chipped away, eventually tying the game at 63 before pulling ahead for good. Tyler King’s clutch three-pointer with 1:39 left sealed the victory for the Cougars.
“We’re in February now, conference games down the stretch, and this is what it’s going to be about,” Lindenwood head coach Kyle Gerdeman said postgame. “We were tied 63-63, and that’s exactly the type of game you expect this time of year. We just made a few plays down the stretch on offense and defense that made the difference. You tip your hat to them, and you move on to the next one.”
King led all scorers with 23 points, hitting four of seven from beyond the arc. Jack Campion added 17 points, seven assists, and four steals, while Arnas Sakenis posted a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. The Cougars’ bench outscored Lindenwood 18-2, highlighted by CJ Hall’s 10 points.
Lindenwood’s balanced attack featured Jadis Jones’ 23 points and 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. Anias Futrell added 16 points and nine boards, Mekhi Cooper contributed 11, and Dontrez Williams and Milos Nenadic chipped in 10 apiece, with Williams recording his first double-double of the season with 11 rebounds.
“It’s important to recognize what our guys did well,” Gerdeman said. “You have to own the mistakes, and our guys did a pretty good job evaluating themselves honestly. That’s how you get better this time of year.”
The first half was a roller-coaster of runs and counter-runs. After trading baskets early, Lindenwood went on an 11-0 tear, highlighted by Futrell’s six points and a Cooper deep three, taking a 21-11 lead. The Lions extended their largest lead to 11 points at 30-19 following back-to-back buckets from Jones.
SIUE ended the half on a 6-2 run, cutting the deficit to 41-37. Jones led all scorers with 15 points at halftime, shooting 7-of-9, while Williams and Futrell each added eight points. Lindenwood shot 51.4 percent from the field in the opening half.
“We were moving the ball well, executing offensively, and getting good shots in the first half,” Gerdeman said. “Jadis made some big plays. But in the second half, you have to stay patient. Sometimes our aggressive guys try to do too much, and that can cost you a possession or two. Those are the plays that matter late in games.”
SIUE opened the second half with a King three-pointer to make it 41-40 but quickly fell behind 56-44 after a series of three-pointers from Futrell and Cooper. The Cougars, however, refused to fold, eventually tying the game at 63. A late 5-0 run gave SIUE a 68-63 lead with just over four minutes left, and the Cougars limited Lindenwood to just nine points over the final five minutes.
“They limited us to 28.6% from the field in the second half,” Gerdeman said. “That’s credit to their defense. But we also had to stay disciplined offensively, and we found some good shots down the stretch.”
Gerdeman was proud about his players’ performances and leadership. “Jadis Jones is just a ballplayer,” he said. “He doesn’t have a position. He just shows up and competes every night. Tonight, he had 23 and 10 after not doing much for a week and a half. He’s our heart and soul. A big-time competitor and a big-time winner. I couldn’t be prouder.”
He also praised the adaptability of his players against a challenging matchup. “Milo [Nenadic] had to go up against their seven-footer,” Gerdeman said. “It’s a tough assignment, but he gave us everything he had. When he’s confident and aggressive, he’s really good, and that showed tonight.”
Despite the loss, Gerdeman kept perspective. “We’re tied for second with seven games left,” he said. “Every game feels like the Super Bowl. One win here or there is big, but it’s all about owning it, learning, and preparing for the next challenge. That’s what makes this program proud. We’ve put ourselves in a great spot.”
Lindenwood bounced back on the road with a thrilling 79-74 victory over Little Rock and will host UT Martin on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. for Coaches vs. Cancer Night.
“February basketball, especially conference games, is always tight,” Gerdeman said. “That’s why it’s fun to coach, fun to play. The energy, the crowd, the intensity — it’s college basketball at its best.”
