The third time was a charm for the Lindenwood men's basketball team after beating William Jewell 76-66 in the semifinals of the HAAC Tournament Saturday night at Hyland Arena. William Jewell beat the Lions twice during the regular season. It is also the second consecutive season that the Lions will play for the HAAC Tournament championship.

Lindenwood jumped out on a 14-4 run in the first six minutes to take a 10 point lead to the delight of the large crowd. William Jewell quieted the Lion faithful with a 12-5 run later in the half to cut the Lindenwood lead to three. With three minutes to go in the opening half, Richard Rose hit a three to put the Lions up six, but Jonathan Benson answered back with a bucket. Neither team scored over the final 1:20. 

It did not take the Cardinals long in the second half to take the lead after scoring five quick points. The visitors held the lead for all of 12 seconds before Brett Thompson and Alfred Neslon hit back-to-back shots to put the Lions ahead again. Over the next 14 minutes, the lead changed hands five times and neither team held more than a four-point advantage.

At the 4:11 mark, Rose hit a three-pointer to catapult Lindenwood to an 8-0 run to help the home team race out to an eight-point lead. From that point on, the Lions iced the game from the free-throw line, going 11 for 14.

The Lions ended the game shooting 45 percent from the field and 46 percent from behind the three-point line. William Jewell shot 39 percent from the field and 38 percent from behind the arc. The Lions won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Jewell 42-35.

All five of the Lions' starters scored in double-figures, led by Kramer Soderberg's 18. Alex Bazzell scored 16 and added five assists. Rose contributed 15, Nelson pitched in 11, and Thompson scored 10, while grabbing nine rebounds. 

With the win, Lindenwood improves its overall record to 28-4. Up next for the Lions is the HAAC Tournament championship game against the Evangel Crusaders Tuesday night in Springfield, Mo. at 7 p.m.