Lindenwood’s Tommie Williams attempts to block a shot by IUPUI’s Jlynn Counter in a men’s basketball game, Saturday afternoon. (Photo courtesy: IUPUI Athletics)

NCAA Men’s Basketball12Final
Lindenwood (5-6)353873
IUPUI (3-9)373067

DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The Lindenwood University men’s basketball team earned its second straight win and first road win of the season on Saturday, when it defeated Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI), 73-67, in a non-conference game at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

Senior forward Keenon Cole made 11-of-19 shots and topped his career-high for the second straight game, with 26 points to lead Lindenwood. Teammate Darius Beane added 16 points and Keith Haymon came off the bench to score 11 points, as Lindenwood trailed at halftime, but took the lead early in the second and never looked back.

“Great win for our guys on the road today,” Lindenwood head coach Kyle Gerdeman said. “It takes a team effort and a lot of focus to win on the road, and I thought we did a good job in both areas. We made the plays down the stretch to win the game, and I was really happy for our players.”

Lindenwood took its first lead early in the game and led by seven points for most of the first half, before the offense struggled from the field late.

IUPUI took the first lead of the afternoon after a driving layup by the Jaguars’ season leading scorer Jlynn Counter at the 2:00 mark. Beane then hit his first three of the season to give Lindenwood the lead back. Bryce Monroe’s layup with under a minute remaining gave IUPUI the lead heading into halftime.

Lindenwood shot 44.4% from the floor in the opening half (12-27) including hitting three threes. IUPUI caught fire late helping them shoot 56.0% going into halftime. They were also a perfect 7-7 from the line in the first half.

Coming out of the break, Lindenwood jumped out on a 9-0 run including two buckets from Cole and a three-pointer from Colin Ruffin. Ruffin sat out most of the first half due to two fouls in the first minute of play.

The Lions’ defense held IUPUI without a field goal for the first 9:53 of the half. Haymon helped stretch the lead out for the Lions to a game high 13 points at the 9:30 mark. After shooting 2-4 from the game, Haymon finished with 11 points including going 6-6 from the foul line.

IUPUI gained momentum late in the second half by cutting the lead to six after an and one by Bryce Monroe. Lindenwood was held scoreless for nearly six minutes, before Ruffin hit a two point jumper. Ruffin’s jumped had stopped a 12-0 run that tied the game for the Jaguars.

Beane’s effectiveness to drive the lane created an and-one opportunity for the red-shirt senior to stretch the lead to 69-64. Cole would ice the game with two foul shots giving Lindenwood a seven point advantage. LU created a five second call to force a turnover to end the game.

Tommie Williams had just one point, but grabbed a team high six rebounds while blocking a season high three shots. Ruffin also grabbed six rebounds while also scoring five points and picking up two steals. Jaylon McDaniel scored all six of his points from the line. Counter finished with 23 to lead IUPUI.

Lindenwood (5-6) will play its second straight road game on Tuesday, December 19, when the team travels down to Springfield to take on Missouri State. The contest is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.

Lindenwood’s next home game will come on Friday, December 22, when the Lions will host Rockford University, in a 6 p.m. game at Hyland Arena.

Lindenwood 73

##PlayerGSMINFG3PTFTORB-DRBREBPFATOBLKSTLPTS
24Cole,Keenon*3711-190-44-51-562130126
25Beane,Darius*375-141-25-60-553230116
23Talton,Jeremiah*213-62-50-00-00100008
05McDaniel,Jaylon*250-10-06-81-23412016
01Ruffin,Colin*182-31-10-05-16320025
13Haymon II,Keith232-41-36-60-223220111
03Williams,Tommie260-10-01-21-56202301
15Johnson Jr.,Nathan80-20-00-00-11001000
11Lado,Amoro50-10-10-00-00000000
TMTEAM00-00-00-00-11004000
Totals–20023-515-1622-278-2230188173673

IUPUI 67

##PlayerGSMINFG3PTFTORB-DRBREBPFATOBLKSTLPTS
00Counter, Jlynn*365-150-413-142-243441423
13Jackson, DJ*275-61-13-52-024110314
04Monroe, Bryce*373-100-21-10-00231027
10Dewitt, Cooper*160-00-00-00-00101000
15Nkomba, Yves*40-10-00-00-00000000
01Brady II, Vincent273-71-50-01-23412017
07Samuels, Qwanzi223-40-10-02-79412006
02Egbuta, John101-40-12-32-13000004
09Samb, Abdou102-30-00-00-22201104
08Blocker, Kidtrell110-10-02-20-11101102
TMTEAM00-00-00-00-22001000
Totals–20022-512-1421-259-172621101431067

2023-24 Lindenwood Lions Men’s Basketball Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
December 19, 2023 (Tuesday)7:00 p.m.AwayMissouri StateSpringfield, MO
December 22, 2023 (Friday)6:00 p.m.HomeRockfordHyland Arena
December 31, 2023 (Sunday)2:30 p.m.HomeSouthern IndianaHyland Arena
January 6, 2024 (Saturday)2:30 p.m.AwayWestern IllinoisMacomb, IL
January 11, 2024 (Thursday)7:30 p.m.AwaySoutheast Missouri StateCape Girardeau, MO
January 13, 2024 (Saturday)3:30 p.m.AwayTennessee StateNashville, TN
January 18, 2024 (Thursday)7:30 p.m.HomeSIU-EdwardsvilleHyland Arena
January 20, 2024 (Saturday)3:30 p.m.HomeEastern IllinoisHyland Arena
January 25, 2024 (Thursday)6:30 p.m.AwayLittle RockLittle Rock, Ark.
January 27, 2024 (Saturday)3:30 p.m.AwayTennessee-MartinMartin, TN
January 30, 2024 (Tuesday)7:30 p.m.HomeSoutheast Missouri StateHyland Arena
February 1, 2024 (Thursday)7:30 p.m.HomeWestern IllinoisHyland Arena
February 8, 2024 (Thursday)7:30 p.m.HomeTennessee StateHyland Arena
February 10, 2024 (Saturday)3:30 p.m.HomeTennessee TechHyland Arena
February 15, 2024 (Thursday)7:30 p.m.AwaySIU-EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL
February 17, 2024 (Saturday)3:30 p.m.AwayEastern IllinoisCharleston, IL
February 22, 2024 (Thursday)7:30 p.m.HomeTennessee-MartinHyland Arena
February 24, 2024 (Saturday)3:30 p.m.HomeArkansas-Little RockHyland Arena
February 29, 2024 (Thursday)7:30 p.m.AwaySouthern IndianaEvansville, IN
March 2, 2024 (Saturday)2:00 p.m.AwayMorehead StateMorehead, KY
March 6-10, 2024TBAFord CenterOhio Valley ConferenceEvansville, IN