Lindenwood's Anias Futrell stole the show at Hyland Arena, scoring 36 points to lead his team to a convincing 92-76 win over Western Illinois. Futrell's impressive outing, which also included 8 rebounds and 5 assists, was the catalyst for Lindenwood's dominant performance. The Lions, now 12-9 on the season, never trailed in the second half, building on their 42-28 halftime lead to secure the 16-point victory.
Western Illinois's Antwaun Massey did his best to keep his team in the game, scoring 33 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. Dontrez Williams and Jadis Jones joined Futrell in double digits, scoring 18 points each, with Williams also adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists to his stat line.
The game was essentially decided in the first half, as Lindenwood's strong shooting and rebounding allowed them to build a 14-point lead at the break. Western Illinois, now 4-17 on the season, struggled to find its rhythm on offense, shooting just 28% from the field in the first half. The Leathernecks did show some fight in the second half, scoring 48 points, but it was too little, too late, as Lindenwood's lead never dipped below 10 points.
The win is a Quad 4 victory for Lindenwood, which may not significantly boost their tournament resume but does help to pad their win total. For Western Illinois, the loss is a Quad 3 defeat, which won't hurt their resume too much, given the significant difference in the teams' net rankings. Lindenwood, ranked 236th in the net rankings, is still a long shot to make the tournament, but wins like this one matters in building a strong case for a potential at-large bid.
As the season enters its final stretch, Lindenwood want to build on this momentum and string together some wins to improve their tournament chances. With performances like Futrell's, the Lions have shown they have the talent to compete with anyone on their schedule. For now, they'll take the win and move on to their next challenge, hoping to continue their strong play and make a push for a postseason berth. The victory over Western Illinois may not be a marquee win, but it's a step in the right direction for a Lindenwood team looking to make some noise in the coming weeks.