Lindenwood coach Kyle Gerdeman calls out instructions to point guard Kevin Caldwell, Jr., during the Lions’ game Saturday afternoon at Hyland Arena against No. 21 Truman State. (Photo courtesy: Lindenwood Athletics)
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truman State | 37 | 31 | 68 |
| Lindenwood | 42 | 36 | 78 |
by DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer
The Lindenwood University men’s basketball team picked up its biggest win of the season, Saturday afternoon, when it knocked off No. 21-ranked and Great Lakes Valley Conference Central Division-leading Truman State, in front of a packed house at Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo.
Lindenwood got a combined 52 points from its high-flying scoring trio of Romelo Burrell, Kevin Caldwell, Jr., and Jacoby Ross. The senior shooting guard Ross led the way with a game-high 20 points, while the junior point guard Caldwell added 17 points.
But it was Burrell’s was tremendous performance on both ends of the floor, where he had 15 points and 12 rebounds — all on the defensive end — that may have been the difference in the contest.
Lindenwood, which had lost seven of its last eight before snapping that streak with a win over William Jewell this past Thursday evening, never trailed on Saturday. The Lions began the game with a 9-3 run and managed to keep that lead the entire game.
Truman State pulled to within a point once in the first half, and did get the score tied at 53, midway through the second half.
But Lindenwood was able to outscore Truman State, 25-15, in the game’s final 12 minutes, a final surge that was sparked by 8-2 run immediately after Truman tied the game, that gave Lindenwood a comfortable lead again.
Once it regained the lead, Lindenwood never let Truman get closer than two points again. The last time came with four minutes to go, but back-to-back buckets by Burrell pushed the Lions’ lead back to six.
The teams continued to trade baskets in the final minutes, but Lindenwood maintained its edge, and was finally able to put the game away, thanks to a series of free throws in the final minute by Ross and Caldwell, Jr.
The victory improved Lindenwood’s season record to 8-9 and its GLVC league mark to 4-5. The Lions are currently in third place in the GLVC Central, behind Truman State and crosstown rival Missouri-St. Louis, which is in second place.
Lindenwood will look to extend its winning streak to three and possibly four, when it goes on the road for a pair of GLVC games next week against Southwest Baptist and Rockhurst.
The Lions’ next home game will come on Monday, January 31, when they will host Southern Indiana. That matchup will be the first of a three-game homestand for the Lions, who will also play Missouri S&T (February 3) and Drury (February 5) at Hyland Arena.
Truman State 68
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 | Hunter Strait | * | 33 | 5-12 | 2-5 | 4-6 | 2-5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| 40 | Cade McKnight | * | 28 | 6-13 | 2-5 | 2-7 | 2-4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 04 | Dylan Peeters | * | 20 | 6-7 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 3-4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 12 | Masen Miller | * | 33 | 3-11 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 0-3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 24 | Elijah Hazekamp | * | 32 | 3-8 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 2-5 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 35 | Eric Northweather | 13 | 2-4 | 0-1 | 2-4 | 1-0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 13 | Trey Shearer | 19 | 1-5 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 0-3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 22 | Josh Ollendieck | 10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 50 | Keaton Mitchell | 7 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 02 | Sam Nissen | 5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 01 | Sam Lock | 0+ | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | – | 200 | 26-61 | 7-24 | 9-21 | 12-26 | 38 | 18 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 68 |
Lindenwood 78
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jacoby Ross | * | 39 | 6-13 | 2-7 | 6-7 | 0-2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 20 |
| 11 | Kevin Caldwell, Jr. | * | 37 | 6-15 | 3-7 | 2-2 | 1-5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 24 | Romelo Burrell | * | 38 | 6-15 | 0-3 | 3-4 | 0-12 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
| 02 | Brandon Trimble | * | 40 | 3-6 | 1-3 | 3-3 | 1-3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 22 | Brandon Suggs | * | 31 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 2-5 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 15 | Frazier Ott | 7 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 13 | Trent Champagne | 4 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 23 | Kace Kitchell | 3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 03 | Sharrod Taylor | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | – | 200 | 27-57 | 7-21 | 17-21 | 6-31 | 37 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 78 |
| Lindenwood Lions Men’s Basketball Upcoming Schedule |
| Thu., January 27 — at Southwest Baptist — 7:30 pm |
| Sat., January 29 — at Rockhurst — 3 pm |
| Mon., January 31 — vs. Southern Indiana — 7:30 pm |
| Thu., February 3 — vs. Missouri S&T — 7:30 pm |
| Sat., February 5 — vs. Drury — 3 pm |
| All Lindenwood home basketball games will be played at Hyland Arena. |