Game #8
Lindenwood (3-4, 0-0 OVC)
at Idaho State (3-4, 0-0 BSC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023
Location: Pocatello, Id.
Venue: Reed Gym
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-0
Last Meeting: L, W, 77-76 (OT) (11/23/22)
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
The Lindenwood men's basketball team hits the road before a two game home stand to take on the Bengals of Idaho State from the Big Sky Conference. On Monday, the Lions fell to Utah Tech in Hyland Arena by a final score of 66-73.

The Lions have a 3-4 record midway through their non-conference season including wins against Omaha and William & Mary at the Air Force Classic. Keenon Cole is also leading the Lions this season in points (17.1 ppg) and rebounds (5.4 rpg).

Idaho State comes into the weekend with a 3-4 record after suffering a loss on the road to Pepperdine University by a score of 62-77. Lindenwood picked up their first Division I win against a DI opponent at home last season against Idaho State with a 77-76 (OT) victory. 

On the season, Lindenwood is shooting 39.8% from the field while making 69.5% from the line. Before their game vs. Utah Tech, the Lions were making over 70% from the line, but struggled against the Trailblazers only making 13-23.

To begin the season, the Lions were picked to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference as they begin their second Division I season in program history under head coach Kyle Gerdeman.

Player to Watch
Keenon Cole has been off to a hot start for the Lions being the only player on the Lindenwood squad to score in double-digits in all seven games this season. Cole ranks sixth in the OVC in scoring this season with 17.1 ppg. He posted a season high 20 points at Power Five opponent Iowa State. He is one of two Lions this season with multiple 20+ games.

Cole struggled from the field on Monday vs. Utah Tech going 5-18 including hitting two fo the Lions' five three-pointers. His 18 field-goal attempts were a season high. He also pulled down 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

OVC Top Ten
The leader of the 2023-24 Lindenwood Lions team is leading scorer Keenon Cole. Cole is averaging 17.1 points per game this season, sixth in the OVC, and has scored in double digits in all seven games for the Lions. He is third on the team and 12th in the conference in FG% while shooting 42.4% from the field.

Not only is Cole effective from the field, but he also is solid at the foul line making 82.5% at the charity stripe, ranking third in the OVC. His 33 makes from the line is also third in the conference.

Darius Beane is also effective from the floor ranking sixth in field goal percentage after shooting 49.3% this season. Beane has scored over 20 points twice this season including a season high 25 points vs. William & Mary.

One time Freshman of the Week Ruffin also ranks in the top ten this season in steals, ranking ninth with an average of 1.3 per game and nine total. He had five steals to lead Lindenwood at the MTE in Colorado.

OVC Preseason Rankings
In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head men's basketball coaches and communication directors, Morehead State has been picked the preseason favorites for the 2023-24 season. It marks the second-straight year the Eagles have been tabbed the favorites.
 
The Eagles picked up 20 of 22 first-place votes (teams could not vote for themselves); Tennessee State picked up the other votes.  MSU tallied 200 points and was followed by SIUE (162), who was picked second. Tennessee State (153) was picked third and followed by UT Martin (149), Southeast Missouri (124), Tennessee Tech (120), Little Rock (85), Western Illinois (80), Southern Indiana (63), Lindenwood (40) and Eastern Illinois (34).

Scouting Idaho State
The Bengals are led by fifth year head coach Ryan Looney who led the Bengals to an 11-21 record last season. Looney has 42 career wins at ISU since becoming the head coach during the 2019-20 season. During his first season, Looney led the team to their first win during the Big Sky Tournament since the 2009 season.

Brayden Parker is the leading scorer for the Bengals through seven games after averaging 11.7 points per game while pulling down 5.9 rebounds. Kiree Huie leads the team down at the block pulling down 6.3 boards while scoring close to double-digits averaging 9.6 ppg.

Head Coach: Kyle Gerdeman
Kyle Gerdeman enters his fifth year at the helm of the Lindenwood men's basketball program in the 2023-24 season. The Lions concluded their inaugural Division I season in 2022-23 where Gerdeman led the Lions to an appearances in the OVC Tournament after a wild finish to the season.

The Lions took down in-state rival Southeast Missouri State in double-overtime to keep their postseason hopes alive.  In the final game of the regular season, Lindenwood needed a win to move on, and Kevin Caldwell Jr. answered the call with a game-winning bucket in overtime.

Lindenwood led the OVC in free-throw percentage (75.6), and was second in the OVC in three-point percentage (39.1).  Chris Childs held the top spot in the league with a free-throw percentage of 92.7, while Keenon Cole was atop the OVC with a three-point percentage of 51.0 percent.  The Lions clawed their way to three overtime wins on the season.  Lindenwood also posted two comeback victories from 20 points down, and another 17-point comeback during OVC play.

Up Next
The Lions return to Hyland Arena for a two game home standing starting on Saturday, Dec.9 at 3:30 p.m. as the Lions take on Kansas City. They will then host Avila University at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.