Saturday's Game At A Glance
• The Lindenwood men's basketball team is home on Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. game against Central Missouri. The Mules are tied for second in the MIAA standings, but 10 teams, including Lindenwood, are within two games of that slot.
 
• Lindenwood started its homestand on Thursday night with a disappointing 81-54 loss to Southwest Baptist. The setback puts the Lions at 14-7 on the season and 4-5 in the MIAA.
 
• Central Missouri has won two straight MIAA games, including a 66-64 road victory over Lincoln on Wednesday night. The Mules are 11-5 overall and 5-3 in the MIAA.
 
• Central Missouri leads the all-time series against Lindenwood by an 8-2 margin, including a 6-2 record since the Lions joined the MIAA. Lindenwood is 2-2 against the Mules in Hyland Arena. Last season, Central Missouri swept the season series against the Lions with both games being defensive battles. In Warrensburg, the Mules won a 54-41 margin. In St. Charles, Lindenwood fell by a 59-58 score.
 
• For the second straight game, the Lions will be going against one of the top defenses in the league. Central Missouri is second in the MIAA by allowing 66.9 points a game. Lindenwood is fourth with a 68.7 average.
 
Lindenwood Notes
• The Lions had one of their best defensive efforts of the season against Pittsburg State. The 55 points was the third-lowest total Lindenwood has allowed this season, including just 38 points through the first 35 minutes.
 
• In the Lance Randall era, Lindenwood is now 21-10 when holding opponents below 70 points, and 19-4 when holding opponents below 40 percent shooting from the field.
 
• The Lions followed that by one of its worst defensive nights of the season. Southwest Baptist scored the third-most points, and had the best field-goal percentage against Lindenwoood.
 
• Lindenwood is 10-1 this season when making more three-pointers than its opponent. In its victories this season, the Lions are averaging 10.2 three-pointers a game, and shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc. In their losses, it is averaged 6.9 three-pointers a game, and shooting 29.4 percent from three-point range.
 
• Over its last six games, Lindenwood is forcing 17.5 turnovers a game, and it has a +3.8 turnover margin. In that span, it is scoring 16.8 points a game off turnovers. The Lions are 13-5 over their last two seasons when having fewer turnovers, including a 9-3 record this season.

• Jackson Price has been one of the team's top scorers since Christmas, averaging 13.6 points a game. Before the Southwest Baptist game, Price had been averaging 22.0 points a game over his last three contests. In those three contests, he made 14-of-28 three-point attempts.
 
• Brenon Larson-Gulsvig has also been hot lately. He is averaging 15.3 points over his last four games. In those contests, he is shooting 60.7 percent from the field and 68.4 percent from three-point range.
 
• Bakari Triggs has started four straight contests for the Lions after getting up to speed after missing the start of the season due to being on the football team. Over the last six games, he has four double-figure scoring contests, and is averaging 10.7 points a game.
 
• Lindenwood is second in the MIAA with 9.1 three-pointers made a game. Three players, Jackson Price, LJ McIntosh, and Brenon Larson-Gulsvig are all in the top-20 in three-pointers a game.
 
• Chandler Diekvoss continues to rank in the top-10 in the MIAA in both scoring and rebounding.
 
• In the latest national rankings, the Lions rank in the top-50 in free-throw percentage (41st), scoring defense (34th), and turnovers per game (40th).
 
A Look At The Mules
• Central Missouri has played a lot of close games lately, with three of its last five being decided by five points or less. The Mules are 2-1 in those contests.
 
• Central Missouri is a good shooting team, ranking third in the MIAA in field-goal percentage and three-point percentage, and being fourth in free-throw percentage.
 
• Spencer Reaves leads the team with 17.1 points a game, followed by Kyle Wolf with 11.8 points a contest. Those two players have made 67 three-pointers this season.
 
• Marquiez Lawrence leads the team with 6.1 rebounds a game, and is also the team leader with 18 blocks. Spencer Reaves has team-highs of 49 assists and 25 steals