Who | Western Illinois at Lindenwood
When | Saturday, December 18, 7:30 P.M.
Where | Hyland Arena | St. Charles, MO

Leathernecks Travel to Face the Lions 

Western Illinois opens conference play with a matchup against the Lindenwood Lions, marking the first league contest of the season for both teams. The Leathernecks will look to set the tone early in conference action, as the meeting provides an important opportunity to establish momentum as the conference slate gets underway.

Western Illinois at North Dakota Recap

Western Illinois men's basketball delivered a resilient performance on Saturday afternoon, earning a 69–66 overtime victory over North Dakota at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

The Leathernecks forced overtime after a tightly contested regulation period and then took control in the extra session with defensive stops, rebounding and timely execution to secure the road win.

Western Illinois carried a 32–28 lead into halftime, leaning on physical play in the paint and second-chance opportunities to build the advantage. The Leathernecks controlled the glass early and consistently created high-percentage looks inside.

North Dakota responded in the second half, outscoring WIU 32–28 to send the game into overtime. Neither team was able to create separation in the final minutes of regulation as the contest remained deadlocked at the end of 40 minutes.

In overtime, Western Illinois elevated its play on both ends, limiting the Fighting Hawks to just six points while scoring nine of its own. The Leathernecks capitalized on stops, rebounds and trips to the free-throw line to close out the win.
 

OVC Honors
Western Illinois men's basketball standout Karyiek Dixon was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week as well as Newcomer of the Week following a dominant performance in the Leathernecks' 69–66 overtime victory over North Dakota.

Dixon delivered one of the most impactful performances in the conference this season, leading Western Illinois with 17 points while pulling down a career-high 18 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. He shot 6-for-10 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free throw line, providing a steady offensive presence throughout the contest.

A force on the glass, Dixon collected 11 offensive rebounds and seven defensive rebounds, generating multiple second-chance opportunities that proved crucial in a tightly contested game that extended into overtime. His effort helped the Leathernecks control key possessions during critical moments late in regulation and overtime.

Scouting Lindenwood
Lindenwood enters the conference opener under the direction of head coach Kyle Gerdeman, who is in his seventh season at the helm. The Lions play an up-tempo style, averaging 81.4 points per game while holding opponents to 73.1, supported by efficient shooting on both ends of the floor. Lindenwood shoots 46.7 percent from the field and limits opponents to 41.1 percent, while also defending the three-point line effectively at 32.5 percent.

The Lions are active on the glass and in passing lanes, averaging 41.2 rebounds and 16.4 assists per game, while forcing turnovers with 9.7 steals per contest. Offensively, Jadis Jones leads the way, pacing the team in both scoring (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (8.2 rpg). Clayton Jackson serves as the primary facilitator with 4.1 assists per game, while Mekhi Cooper and Milos Nenadic anchor the defense with team highs in steals (1.9 spg) and blocks (1.7 bpg), respectively.

Keys to the Matchup

• Control the Tempo: Lindenwood thrives in an up-tempo game, averaging over 81 points per contest. Western Illinois will look to dictate pace, valuing possessions and limiting transition opportunities.

• Win the Defensive Glass: With the Lions pulling down more than 41 rebounds per game, securing defensive rebounds will be key to preventing second-chance points and igniting offense the other way.

• Protect the Ball: Lindenwood's activity in passing lanes leads to nearly 10 steals per game. Limiting turnovers will be critical for Western Illinois to stay efficient offensively and keep the Lions out of rhythm.

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