Game #15
Lindenwood (6-8, 0-1 OVC)
at Western Illinois (9-6, 2-0 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Venue: Western Hall
Tip-Off: 3:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
The Lindenwood men's basketball team hits the road for the first time in Ohio Valley Conference play to start a three game away stretch as they take on OVC newcomer Western Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 6. This marks the first meeting between the two schools.

Lindenwood started OVC play last weekend on New Year's Eve as they took on Southern Indiana in Hyland Arena. After a back and forth game, USI took home the win after defeating the Lions 62-73. Keenon Cole continued his streak of double-digit scoring to start the season after posting 17 points. LU shot 36.0% from the floor in the loss.

Western Illinois is on a hot streak entering the matchup against LU as they have won their last six games including two games in OVC action. On Thursday, Western Illinois defeated Southeast Missouri in Macomb, Ill. by a final score of 68-61. The Leathernecks are 6-1 at home this season.

Through the first 14 games of the season, the Lions are shooting 41.3% from the floor while shooting 74.0% from the foul line (second in the OVC). Lindenwood has been led by Cole and Darius Beane who are the only double-digit scorers on the team. The duo accounts for 46% of the Lions' scoring this season. 

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
On the block, Isaac Ondekane is coming off his best overall performance for the Lions in a loss against Southern Indiana. Ondekane made his first start in a Lindenwood uniform and played his most minutes this season (30).

He scored eight points (2-5 shooting) while making 4-5 from the line. Ondekane was also dominant on the glass picking up a career high nine rebounds. His 17 offensive rebounds is the most by a Lindenwood player this season.

Ondekane is averaging 4.6 points per game while picking up 3.7 rebounds. He is first on the team in field goal percentage after shooting 54.8% from the floor. He is also averaging 14.6 minutes per game in his first season at LU.

OVC Top Ten
With his average of 17.6 points per game, Cole is third in the conference in scoring. His 246 total points is now ranked fifth among all players in the OVC. Not only is he effective from the floor, but Cole's 77.8% from the FT ranks seventh in the OVC. Cole's 63 made foul shots also ranks second. He is averaging the fourth most minutes in the conference (33.1). Cole also ranks 13th in FG% sitting at 42.9%.

Beane sits just outside the top ten in the scoring rankings in the OVC after averaging 13.1 points this season. He was able to get back in the double digit scoring column against USI AFTER dropping 10 points vs. the Screaming Eagles. He still ranks seventh in the OVC in FG percentage at 48.0%.

Colin Ruffin has also been active on defense averaging the third most steals in the entire conference with an average of 1.6. He has a total of 22 steals this season during his freshman campaign which is fifth in the OVC. He was also a one-time OVC Freshman of the Week selection.

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 Western Illinois
The Leathernecks are coached by Chad Boudreau who is entering his first season at WIU. For the past three seasons, Boudreau has served as associate head coach for the Western Illinois men's basketball program. During those three years, the Leathernecks saw increases in wins and win percentage, both overall and in the Summit League.

James Dent Jr. is the leading scorer for Western Illinois after averaging 14.1 points per game in 15 contests. He has made 27 threes this season while shooting 31.4% from behind the arc. Dent ranks 11th in scoring in the OVC.

The other double-digit scorer for Western Illinois is Ryan Myers who is a transfer from Indian Hills and Iona. Myers is a deep-ball threat making 46.3% of his three point attempts. He had a season high 25 points vs. South Dakota making 7-10 from behind the arc.

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 continue their three game road stretch next week as they travel to Southeast Missouri State to take on the defending OVC Tournament Champions on Thursday, Jan.11 at 7:30 p.m. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.