Game #19
Lindenwood (7-11, 1-4 OVC)
vs. Eastern Illinois (8-10, 2-3 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 3:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-1
Last Meeting: W, 80-67
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch
Radio: Listen

Matchup
The Lindenwood men's basketball team continues their two game home stretch with a matchup against the Panthers of Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 3:30 p.m. CT. The Lions are looking to win their first home conference game of the season after starting 0-2.

Lindenwood started the week off with a tough loss at home to SIUE by a final score of 59-78. Jaylon McDaniel had his best offensive performance of the season after scoring 13 points down low. Reigning OVC Player of the Week Keenon Cole also scored 14 points to lead Lindenwood.

Eastern Illinois currently ranks seventh in the conference after starting OVC play with a 2-3 record with wins at UT Martin and Little Rock. Their last OVC game was against Western Illinois where they suffered a 60-63 loss. After Saturday's game, EIU plays their next four games at home.

In OVC play, the Lions are averaging 62.4 ppg in five games this season (last in the OVC) and are shooting 40.9% from the field which ranks ninth in conference only stats. On the season, they are scoring 66.1 ppg behind the Lions' two leading scorers Keenon Cole (18.6) and Darius Beane (13.0). This duo combines for 47.8% of Lindenwood's scoring.

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
Jaylon McDaniel had one of his best offensive outputs against the Cougars of SIUE on Thursday after tying his career high at Lindenwood with 13 points on 6-11 shooting. It marked the fourth time this season that McDaniel has scored in double-figures.

During the first four minutes of action against SIUE, McDaniel scored the first nine points of the game for Lindenwood. During the span, McDaniel grabbed two offensive rebounds which resulted in put-back layups. He has a total of 18 off. rebounds this season and is averaging 3.1 rpg.

A transfer from Northwest Florida State, McDaniel is averaging 6.7 ppg this season and has started 15 games for the Lions. He is shooting 46.4% from the floor and 67.4% from the foul line. He also leads the team in blocked shots with 10.

OVC Top Ten
Keenon Cole maintains his place as the second leading scorer in the OVC while averaging 18.6 points per game. He trails only Jordan Sears from UT Martin in points this season. He also ranks ninth in free-throw percentage at 80.2% and sixth in minutes averaging 33.1.

Darius Beane can also score for the Lions averaging 13.0 points per game this season ranking just outside the top ten at 17. His field goal percentage ranks fifth in the OVC at 47.7%. Beane is second in most offensive categories behind Cole.

Colin Ruffin is averaging 1.3 steals per game as a freshman this season which ranks seventh in the conference. He is the only Lindenwood player with over 20 steals this season (24).

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 Eastern Illinois
The Panthers are led by Marty Simmons who is in his third season at Eastern Illinois. Simmons was previously the head coach at Evansville and was the special assistant to the head coach at Clemson. He has a 22-58 overall record and a 10-31 OVC record.

EIU is led by Tarleton State transfer Tiger Booker who is their leading scorer averaging 13.9 ppg. He is one of three double-figure scorers for the Panthers. He has 10 games of over 10+ points this season including a season high 31 in a win at Little Rock. He is third in OVC only stats averaging 18.4 ppg.

Toledo transfer Kooper Jacobi has also been putting up numbers for the Panthers averaging 10.5 ppg and a team-high 7.7 rpg. He has two double-doubles this season including a 15 points and 15 rebounds game against IUPUI.

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 will hit the road again next week as they travel to Little Rock (Jan. 25) and UT Martin (Jan. 27) with both games airing on ESPN+. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.