Game #30
Lindenwood (8-21, 2-14 OVC)
at Southern Indiana (8-21, 5-11 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024
Location: Evansville, Ind.
Venue: Screaming Eagles Arena
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-7
Last Meeting: L, 62-73
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
The Lindenwood men's basketball team ends their 2024 season on the road as they take on Southern Indiana on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT. Lindenwood makes their final trip of the season in Evansville, Ind. before making a stop at Morehead State on Saturday.

The Lions are coming off two of their better offensive performances of the season including a 73-82 loss against Little Rock last Saturday on Senior Day. Lindenwood made 11 threes against the Trojans, tying a season high. LU had four players in double-digits including a season-high 18 from Keith Haymon II.

Southern Indiana is currently battling for the final spot in the OVC Tournament as they sit in ninth place with a 5-11 OVC record. The Screaming Eagles are 1-3 in their last four games including a 82-76 loss in their last game on the road against Western Illinois. USI defeated Lindenwood to open up OVC play in Hyland Arena by a final score of 73-62.

During OVC competition, the Lions are averaging 64.1 ppg which ranks 11th among all OVC teams. They are shooting 39.3% during those games which also ranks 11th. Throughout the entire season, LU is averaging 65.6 points a game behind the Lion's two leading scorers Keenon Cole (18.1 ppg) and Darius Beane (12.4 ppg). The duo combines for 46.5% 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
Keith Haymon II is coming off his best game in a Lindenwood uniform after scoring a season-high 18 points on Saturday against Little Rock during Senior Day. Haymon drained six threes against the Trojans on 6-11 shooting.

Through 29 games this season, Haymon leads the team with 40 made threes while shooting 31.5% from behind the arc. He has scored in double-digits five time this season while making a three in all but six games.

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 Southern Indiana
The Screaming Eagles are led by fourth-year head coach Stan Gouard. Gouard has a career record of 54-51 with a 24-38 Division I record in two years. His team this season has averaged 69.0 points per game which ranks eighth. They also allow 73.1 ppg which ranks sixth.

Southern Indiana is led by their two double-digit scorers Jeremiah Hernandez (17.3 ppg) and AJ Smith (14.0 ppg). Hernandez leads the OVC in made FT with 189. Smith has scored in double-digits 22 times this season including in his last nine OVC games.

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 play their final game of the 2023-24 season on Saturday as they take on Morehead State at 2:30 p.m. CT in Morehead, Ky. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.