Led by its two starting post players, the Lindenwood men’s basketball team picked up a much needed victory on Saturday with a 72-62 win over William Jewell.
Brett Thompson and
Toriano Adams both recorded double-doubles in the game and played key roles in the Lions’ offense which scored the most points against William Jewell this season during the conference season. The duo also helped Lindenwood win the rebounding battle 41-22, and held the HAAC’s top rebounder, Nick Larson, to just four boards.
Lindenwood never trailed in the game and led for the final 36 minutes of the contest. Lindenwood went on an early 15-5 run to take a 19-9 lead. Nine points in the early part of the game came from Adams who hit his first four shots. The Cardinals got back into the game with a 7-0 run after that and eventually the score was 25-21 Lindenwood at halftime.
In the second half, William Jewell got within a basket on seven different occasions, but Lindenwood never relinquished the lead. The final time the Cardinals got within two was at 54-52 with just over five minutes remaining. Thompson scored six straight points at that point, highlighted by a three-point play with four minutes left, to put the Lions up 60-52. William Jewell cut the lead to five in the final minute, but a Thompson dunk and three free throws by
Richard Rose put the finishing touches on the Lions’ victory.
Lindenwood finished the game shooting 45.6 percent from the field, including 51.7 percent in the second half when it scored 47 points. William Jewell shot 42.3 percent from the field but the Lions held the Cardinals to just four-of-20 shooting from three-point range.
Thompson finished with season-highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds. He shot eight-of-16 from the field, made one three-pointer, was five-of-seven from the free throw line, and blocked three shots. Adams made eight-of-11 from the field and finished with 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Alfred Nelson returned to the Lindenwood lineup and scored 11 points.
Brandon Kunkel hit three second half three-pointers and finished with nine points, the same amount as teammate Rose scored.
Joey Parker dished out a team-high six assists.