Box Score The Lindenwood men's basketball team dropped its third consecutive game to start the season on Sunday night 85-77 to No. 5 Minnesota State in Anaheim, Calif. The Lions had four scorers in double figures but it wasn't enough.

Minnesota State started off the contest going on a 21-8 run in the first 10 minutes. It looked bleak in the early going for the Lions but the team battled back and answered with a long run of its own. Lindenwood went on a 17-3 run to tie the score with 4:56 to go in the opening half.

The Lions would take their first lead of the game after Darris Smith hit a three. The Mavericks came right back and tied the score up. Lindenwood then scored four straight points from the free throw line to take a three-point advantage. Minnesota State came right back with four straight points of its own to send the game to half tied at 37.

The Mavericks came out of the locker room on a mission scoring the first 26 of 36 points to take a 16 point lead. Even trailing by 16 the Lions did not give in. Lindenwood went on an 11-3 run to cut the deficit by eight. The run was keyed by back-to-back three-point plays by Tyler Ressel and Brandon Marquardt.

Minnesota State extended the lead back up to eight 1:50 to play. Marquardt would hit a three with 1:42 to get within five but that was as close as the Lions would get.

Marquardt led the team in scoring with 17 points followed by Michael Boos and Ressel with 16 each. Garret Reeg chipped in with 10 points as well. Smith played all 40 minutes and did not turn the ball over and dished out four assists.

The Lions shot 46 percent from the field and 41 percent from behind the three-point line. Lindenwood lost the rebounding battle 36-31 including 14-11 on the offensive glass.

The Lions fall to 0-3 on the season and will play their home opener on Wednesday night against Westminster.