First Round Games – Wednesday – March 1
# 5 Southeast Missouri v # 8 Lindenwood
These two teams played a double-overtime thriller last week. Lindenwood (11-20, 6-12) had to win its last two games to qualify for the championships and its come-from-behind win against the Redhawks kept their postseason hopes alive. Two days later the Lions won an overtime battle with Little Rock.
SEMO’s 15-16 record is misleading. The Redhawks lost to Missouri Valley champion Bradley, Missouri, Iowa, Milwaukee and Southern Illinois. All but Iowa have won at least 20 games. Brad Korn’s team has firepower. Russell (18.2), Chris Harris (14.7), and Israel Barnes (10.4) are the offensive leaders, but when Aquan Smart, Dylan Branson, and Nate Johnson became more of a fixture in the lineup the Redhawks got better. SEMO scored 94 and 102 points against Lindenwood.
Overcoming all odds, Lindenwood proved they belonged in Division 1 basketball. As a first-time D1 team, they took on all comers. Losses to Missouri, Illinois, BYU, and Dayton were part of their non-conference schedule. Hardened by that difficult schedule, Kyle Gerdeman’s team banded together.
Four Lions average over ten points per game. Keenon Cole (13.4) led the league in three-point percentage (.469) and Chris Childs (13.0) led the OVC in free throw efficiency (.912). Kevin Caldwell’s (12.6) overtime triple won the season finale over Little Rock and Cam Burrell (10.5) scored 23 points in that pivotal victory.
Neither of these teams is very big, nor do they play stingy defense. Lindenwood’s ability to make free throws and the momentum they’re riding, look for the Lions to keep it rolling.
# 6 Southern Illinois Edwardsville v # 7 Southern Indiana
These two teams split their regular season games, each winning on the other’s home floor. SIUE’s historic season and USI’s first Division 1 season were both studies of young teams overcoming long odds and earning surprising wins. SIUE was 14-5 and staggered to the finish line (18-13). Snapping a four-game losing streak on Saturday was important for the Cougars’ collective confidence.
The Cougars are deep and talented. Four Cougars average 10.9 points per game or more. While Ray’Sean Taylor (15.7 ppg) is the team’s leading scorer, there are plenty of other weapons. Damarco Minor (13.3), DeeJuan Pruitt (11.4) and Shamar Wright (10.9) are capable of changing games. Pruitt may be the OVC’s best dunker and Minor produced four 20-point performances.
USI finished above .500 (16-15) during the regular season and the Screaming Eagles do a little bit of everything. The league’s leading rebounder (Polakovich) gives them a weapon, no other OVC team has. He averages 12.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. During OVC play, he averaged 14.3 and 14.6! Probably because Polakovich is such a unique inside presence, they fire up the threes. Isaiah Swope, Jelani Simmons and Lakes combined to make 230 triples.
With a regional crowd in their corner, the Screaming Eagles should fight their way into the quarterfinals.