SIUE defeats Lindenwood 66-62
SIUE Edges Lindenwood in Thrilling Conference Matchup
The First Community Arena played host to a thrilling conference matchup between the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (SIUE) and the Lindenwood Lions on Wednesday night. In a game that saw both teams ebb and flow throughout, SIUE emerged victorious with a 66-62 win over their Missouri Valley Conference rivals.
As the clock ticked down, it became clear that this was no ordinary conference game. The Redhawks, playing in front of their raucous home crowd, were determined to come out on top. And they did just that, capitalizing on Lindenwood's struggles from beyond the arc to take control of the contest.
At halftime, SIUE held a slim 35-34 lead, but it was clear that this game was far from over. The Redhawks would go on to push their advantage to as many as eight points in the second half before the Lions responded with a late rally.
In the end, however, SIUE's experience and home-court advantage proved to be too much for Lindenwood to overcome. Darrion Baker, who led the way for SIUE with 20 points, also hauled down nine rebounds and dished out two assists. Jack Campion chipped in with seven assists and seven points of his own.
For the Lions, Jadis Jones was a one-man show, scoring 22 points on an impressive 55.6% shooting night. Mekhi Cooper added seven points, three assists, and three rebounds to round out Lindenwood's top performers.
The advanced statistics paint a picture of a game that was ultimately decided by the margin of SIUE's 3-point shooting advantage. The Redhawks connected on 40.0% of their attempts from beyond the arc, while Lindenwood struggled with just 19.0%. This disparity proved to be the difference-maker in the contest, as SIUE outscored the Lions 28-12 in points off 3-point attempts.
The game's largest lead was eight points, courtesy of a Baker basket with just over two minutes remaining. The Lions responded with a late push, but ultimately fell short of the comeback victory.
In the end, SIUE's 66-62 win over Lindenwood serves as a testament to their strength on the road in conference play. With the win, the Redhawks improve their standing within the Missouri Valley Conference and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with against top opponents.
The outcome may have been close, but one thing is certain: SIUE's home-court advantage proved to be too much for Lindenwood to overcome on Wednesday night.