Box Score The Lindenwood men's basketball team led the entire game in an 87-75 win over the Southwest Baptist Bearcats on Thursday night in Bolivar, Mo. Five separate Lions scored in double figures on the way to the team's sixth MIAA win.

Lindenwood jumped out to an early lead outscoring the Bearcats 30-10 over the first 12 minutes of the game. Southwest Baptist was able to trim the lead to 15 with less than five minutes to play but the visitors' offense continued to pour in the points. The Lions went into the locker room leading 44-26.

As goods as Lindenwood was in the first half, the Bearcats were able to make some good adjustments at the break and did not let the Lions run away and hide.

Southwest Baptist chipped away at the Lions lead and trailed by just 13 with 15:14 to play in the game. Lindenwood then pushed its lead back up to 16 but at the 10 minute mark the Bearcats would shoot their way right back into the contest.

Over the next two and half minutes, Southwest Baptist trimmed the once 20-point lead all the way down to six with 8:02 to go. For the next three minutes the Lions lead would go up to 11 and back down to eight.

Then with 2:11 to go the Bearcats cut the Lindenwood advantage down to four. The four point deficit was as close Southwest Baptist was to the Lions since two minutes into the game.

After the Bearcats cut the lead to four Coach Soderberg called a 30 second timeout to wake his team back up. Right out of the timeout Darris Smith was fouled and proceeded to make both his free throws to extend the lead back up to six.

Southwest Baptist would follow that up with a turnover and a foul which sent Smith right back to the line. The sophomore was good on both free throws and the lead quickly jumped back up to eight.

Gilbert Gyamfi would hit a jumper for the Bearcats to cut the deficit to six but the Lions would make six-of-six free throw with under a minute to play and held off a furious comeback attempt by the Bearcats.

 Cody Sorenson led the way for the Lions scoring 17 points on six-of-eight shooting. Alex Bazzell and Richie Thompson each scored 16. Bazzell also added seven assists and Thompson grabbed five rebounds. Smith and Tyler Ressel chipped in with 12 points each.

Lindenwood shot 47 percent from the field and 56 percent from behind the arc. The Lions compiled 16 assists on 26 made baskets. Lindenwood won the rebounding battle 39-29.

The win improves the Lions to 13-5 overall and 6-4 in MIAA play. Up next for Lindenwood is a home game against the Central Missouri Mules on Saturday afternoon. The Lions are trying to “Sellout for Sterling” on Saturday which will help out the family of injured Lindenwood football player Sterling Thomas.