Lindenwood secured a hard-fought 83-80 victory over Southern Indiana at Hyland Arena, thanks in large part to a standout performance from Milos Nenadic. The Lindenwood forward posted 22 points and 9 rebounds, leading his team to a crucial win. Southern Indiana's Cardell Bailey was equally impressive, scoring 18 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in a losing effort.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Southern Indiana taking a 45-43 lead into the break. However, Lindenwood came out strong in the second half, with Nenadic and Dontrez Williams combining for 25 points after halftime. Williams finished with 21 points and 5 rebounds, while Anias Futrell added 19 points for Lindenwood. Despite a strong effort from Southern Indiana's Sheridan Sharp, who scored 18 points, the visitors were unable to overcome Lindenwood's balanced attack.
Tolu Samuels was a bright spot for Southern Indiana, scoring 15 points and pulling down 9 rebounds. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the hosts' strong team performance. Lindenwood's ability to spread the scoring load and control the paint ultimately was the difference-maker.
This win marks a significant Quad 4 victory for Lindenwood, who improves to 12-9 on the season. While it may not be a marquee win, it's an important one for a team looking to build momentum heading into the second half of the season. For Southern Indiana, the loss drops them to 5-15, and they want to regroup and refocus in their next outing.
The game was closely contested throughout, with neither team able to pull away by more than a few points. In the end, Lindenwood's depth and experience was the deciding factor. Nenadic's strong performance was a key factor in the win, and he want to build on this outing in Lindenwood's next game.
This result has real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes. For Lindenwood, the win is a valuable addition to their portfolio, even if it is a Quad 4 victory. They want to build on this momentum and secure more wins against tougher opponents to strengthen their case for a postseason berth. Southern Indiana, on the other hand, must regroup and secure some quality wins to boost their own tournament chances. As a Quad 3 loss, this game won't hurt Southern Indiana's resume too badly, but they must be more consistent if they hope to make a push for the postseason.