Lindenwood's Dontrez Williams and Anias Futrell stole the show at Liberty Arena, leading the Lions to a convincing 73-60 victory over Southern Indiana. Williams paced Lindenwood with 21 points and 6 rebounds, while Futrell chipped in with 20 points and 12 rebounds. The duo's impressive performance helped the Lions build a 9-point halftime lead, which they would never relinquish.
Southern Indiana's Amaree Brown did his best to keep the Screaming Eagles in the game, scoring 22 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of Lindenwood, which saw three players score in double figures. Milos Nenadic added 18 points and 9 rebounds for the Lions, who shot 47% from the field and outrebounded Southern Indiana 43-36.
The game got off to a fast start, with Lindenwood racing out to a 36-27 lead at the break. The Lions continued to push the pace in the second half, outscoring Southern Indiana 37-33 to seal the 13-point win. Tolu Samuels had a strong game for the Screaming Eagles, pulling down 15 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Lindenwood winning by a narrow 0.9 points, but the Lions had other plans. They dominated from start to finish, winning by a comfortable 13-point margin. The victory improves Lindenwood's record to 13-9, while Southern Indiana falls to 5-16.
The win is a Quad 4 victory for Lindenwood, which may not significantly boost their tournament resume but helps to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. For Southern Indiana, the loss is also a Quad 4 defeat, which won't hurt their resume but doesn't provide any opportunities for growth. As the season enters its final weeks, Lindenwood want to build on this win and make a push for a strong finish, while Southern Indiana will aim to bounce back and find some momentum of their own.
This result reinforces Lindenwood's position as a solid mid-major program, capable of taking care of business on the road against lesser opponents. While it may not be a marquee win, it's a crucial one for the Lions as they jockey for position in their conference standings. As for Southern Indiana, they'll need to regroup and refocus if they hope to turn their season around and make a push for a stronger finish. For now, Lindenwood's strong performance and Dontrez Williams' impressive outing are the headlines, and the Lions want to keep the momentum going in their next outing.