Wednesday's Game At A Glance• The Lindenwood men's basketball team starts a two-game road trip on Wednesday when it travels to one of the toughest venues in the MIAA at Central Missouri. The Lions and Mules will tipoff at 7:30 p.m.
• The Lions have won three straight games and five out of their last six. With those victories, Lindenwood is now tied for first in the MIAA with a 7-2 conference mark. Last time out, the Lions outscored Nebraska-Kearney by a 23-13 margin over the final eight minutes for a 70-63 victory.
• Central Missouri is currently on a two-game losing streak, and it has lost four out of its last five games. The Mules are 9-5 on the season, and 3-5 in conference play. Last Saturday, Central Missouri fell to Missouri Southern by a 100-89 score.
• The contest will matchup two of the top defenses in the MIAA. Lindenwood is currently first in the conference by allowing 64.9 points a game, while Central Missouri is third by giving up just 72.4 points a contest.
• Central Missouri leads the all-time series by a 6-2 margin, including a 5-0 advantage in Warrensburg. Last season, the two teams split the season series, with both teams winning at home.
Lindenwood Notes• Lindenwood leads the MIAA in scoring defense (64.9), field-goal percentage defense (.388), and blocks (5.3). It is 12th in NCAA Division II in scoring defense, eighth in field-goal percentage defense, and seventh in blocks.
• Lindenwood's defense has held eight straight opponents under 70 points, and 12 of its 15 opponents this season have not reached that mark.
• The Lions' streak of holding opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field was snapped against Nebraska-Kearney, but Lindenwood has still held 10 of its 15 opponents under 40 percent shooting
• Lindenwood has held six straight opponents to under 40 percent shooting from three-point range, and opponents are shooting 26 percent in that span.
• The Lions are among the nation's leaders by committing just 14.4 fouls a game. Over their current winning streak, they have been whistled for 10.3 fouls a contest.
• The Lions are eighth in the MIAA with a 46.8 percent field-goal percentage this season. Lidnenwood is 11-1 when shooting over 40 percent.
• Lindenwood is fifth in three-point percentage (.386) and fourth in free-throw percentage (.768).
• Among individual national leaders,
Cory Arentsen is 26th in NCAA Division II in scoring and 24th in free-throw percentage.
Stanislas Heili is eighth in the nation in blocks and 41st in rebounding.
• Three Lions are averaging over a block a game this season.
Stanislas Heili is on pace to shatter the school's single-season record with 42 already this season, nine shy of the school record.
Zachary Biggs has 16 blocks, and
Sam Mader has 10 blocks in nine games.
• In MIAA games,
Cory Arentsen is averaging 23.4 points a game. He is shooting 49 percent from the field, 41 percent from three-point range, and 89 percent from the free-throw line.
• Three Lions rank in the top-nine in the MIAA in rebounding.
Stanislas Heili is second with 9.1 rebounds a game,
Cory Arentsen is eighth with 6.8 boards a contest, and
Zachary Biggs is ninth with 6.7 rebounds a game.
• Lindenwood is ranked sixth in the region in the USBWA and D2SIDA polls this week. The official NCAA regional polls, which decides the NCAA Tournament field, will begin in mid-February.
A Look At Central Missouri• The Mules were a perfect 6-0 in non-conference games this season, but are off to just a 3-5 start in MIAA play.
• Central Missouri leads the MIAA by holding opponents to just 33.1 percent shooting from three-point range, and it is third by holding teams to a 43.8 percent shooting from the field.
• Four Mules are averaging double-figure points, led by D'Marnier Cunningham with 18.0 points a game. He is shooting 57.1 percent from the field, and leads the team with 35 assists and 17 steals.
• Marquiez Lawrence is the team's top rebounder with 8.4 rebounds a game. He averages nearly three offensive rebounds a contest.
