For the second straight game, a Lindenwood Lion scored his 1,000 career point. This time it was senior Darris Smith, who scored a game-high 28 points and became the 11^th Lion to reach the milestone. The Lions also extended its winning-streak to nine with an 82-68 win over the No. 22 Central Missouri Mules on Saturday afternoon in St. Charles, Mo.

Things started off slow for the Lions missing its first shots and then turning the ball over on three straight possessions. Central Missouri turned the slow start into a 7-0 lead. Lindenwood finally got it going and tied the score up at eight after scoring the game's next eight of 10 points.

Central Missouri regained the lead and pushed it up to five with 11:52 to play. The Lions did not let the lead grow and then finally took their first lead of the game with 6:09 to play in the opening half. Lindenwood then closed the half on a 14-5 run and headed into the locker room up by eight points.

The second half started slow just like first half for the Lions. The home team turned it over once and missed its first five shots. Luckily, for Lindenwood the Mules were not able to capitalize on the slow start. Central Missouri got within three but that was as close as the Mules would get.

The Lions pushed the lead to up as many as 14 in the middle of the second half then closed the game out from the charity stripe. Lindenwood went 14-for-14 from the free throw line over the final three minutes.

For the game the Lions shot 54 percent from the field and 92 percent from the free throw line. Lindenwood won the rebounding battle 30-26 and turned the ball over just seven times.

To go along with Smith's 28 points, Cory Arentsen scored 22 points while Garret Reeg chipped in with 12. Sam Mader led the team in rebounds with nine and also scored 10 points.

The win improved the Lions to 13-6 overall and 8-2 in MIAA play. Up next for Lindenwood is a road game against Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday night.