ST. CHARLES, MO. -- The winter holiday break officially ends tonight for the Lindenwood University men's basketball team, which will host its first game of 2013 at the Hyland Arena against crosstown rival Webster University.
The Lions are coming into the new year off a pair of roads wins at Maryville and at Missouri S&T, that gave LU a 6-3 record through the 2012 portion of its schedule.
Lindenwood last played on December 19, so by tip-off tonight, it will have been exactly two weeks since the last time the Lions took the floor for actual game action.
The matchup tonight, which will begin at 7 p.m., will also mark Lindenwood's last non-conference game of the season, with the Lions' last 16 games this season all being against MIAA opponents.
Webster has a 4-5 record, but the Gorloks are tied for first place in the Division III SLIAC, after winning both league games they've played this year.
As a team, Webster is a high-scoring bunch, with an 80.3 points per game average, while giving up 78.7 points a game on defense.
The Gorloks are a fairly balanced group on offense, with four players boasting double-digit point per game averages.
Senior forward Roman Robinson is the scoring leader for Webster, with a 14.8 point average. Guards Ahmad Smith and Cody Bradfisch average 13.7 and 10.9 points, while center Aaron Griffin drops in 10.6 points a game.
Griffin is also Webster's top rebounder at 9.2 a game.
But with only two players taller than 6'5, and no one taller than 6'6, Webster figures to have a tough time matching up with Lindenwood's large front line of 6'5 Richie Thompson, 6'5 Cody Sorenson, and 6'10 Brett Thompson.
Combined, that trio averages just under 30 points and 20 rebounds a game.
LU's fourth senior starter, guard Alex Bazzell is also the Lions' leading scorer at 17.3 points a game.
The former St. Charles West star also leads the team in assists, but is back at his natural position -- shooting guard -- with sophomore Darris Smith (Hazelwood West) making his third start at point guard.
All LU home games are broadcast via pay-per-view on the America One Sports Network, with the radio call of the game available through the school's student-run radio station, 89.1 The Wood, or online at www.891thewood.com.
LINDENWOOD LIONS JANUARY BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
DATE ....... OPPONENT ................... LOCATION ................. TIME
Jan. 2 ...... vs. Webster University ... Hyland Arena .............. 7 pm
Jan. 5 ...... vs. Truman State ............. Hyland Arena .............. 3 pm
Jan. 10 .... vs. Missouri Southern ..... Hyland Arena ............. 7:30 pm
Jan. 12 .... vs. Central Oklahoma ..... Hyland Arena .............. 3 pm
Jan. 16 .... at Missouri Western ........ St. Joseph, Mo. ........... 7:30 pm
Jan. 19 .... vs. Lincoln University .... Hyland Arena .............. 3 pm
Jan. 24 .... vs. Fort Hays State .......... Hyland Arena ............. 7:30 pm
Jan. 26 .... vs. Washburn University . Hyland Arena ............. 3 pm
Jan. 31 .... at Southwest Baptist ........ Bolivar, Mo. ............... 7:30 pm
Comments