The Lindenwood men's basketball team (11-21) closed out its first Division I season on Wednesday with an 84-65 loss to Southeast Missouri State (16-16) in the first round of the OVC Championship in Evansville, Ind.
 
GAME OVERVIEW
Lindenwood opened the game with a 7-0 lead after Kevin Caldwell Jr. knocked down a three-point shot at the 16:41 mark.  The Lions held their lead through the halfway point with the help of tight defensive pressure.  The Redhawks took a 19-18 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the opening half.  Caldwell Jr. put the Lions back up at the five-minute mark with another three-point bucket.  SEMO utilized offensive rebounds to press the pace, as they took a 39-35 advantage into the break.
 
The Redhawks held its lead early in the second half, but Brandon Trimble completed a tough three-point play to bring the deficit to just one point with 15:10 on the clock.  SEMO went on a run a built a 60-51 lead four minutes later.  The Lions continued to claw away, as Cam Burrell and Caldwell Jr. hit tough shots to bring the deficit to five points.  The Redhawks hit a three pointer at the 7:43 mark to make it a 10-point game, and did not look back.  SEMO piled on the points and took down the Lions in the first round game.
 
Caldwell Jr. led all scorers with 19 points with the help of four makes from behind the arc.  Burrell registered a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards, as he added three blocks on the defensive end.  Lindenwood committed 18 turnovers in the game, as the Redhawks utilized the changes of possession to generate 18 points.  SEMO outscored the Lindenwood 46-26 in the paint, and compiled 17 second-chance points.
 
QUOTABLE
"We would love to be playing tomorrow, but it wasn't our night," said head coach Kyle Gerdeman.  "I complement our guys on a year of hard work and commitment.  The way they handled the challenges of year one at this level, they should all be proud of themselves."
 
GAME LEADERS
Cam Burrell (16 PTS, 7-of-11 FG, 10 REB, 3 BLK, 1 AST)
Kevin Caldwell Jr. (19 PTS, 4-of-9 3FG, 2 REB, 1 AST)
Chris Childs (15 PTS)
 
Lindenwood ended the first year at the NCAA Division I level with 11 wins, including a 6-12 mark inside conference play.