Lindenwood Lions aim for 20th win this week

Former Saint Louis University men’s basketball coach Brad Soderberg is settling in nicely in his new role at the helm at Lindenwood University in St. Charles. In his first season at LU, Soderberg (pictured) has the Lions on the verge of a 20-victory season and what he hopes to be a berth in the upcoming National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Tournament in March.

Lindenwood is currently 19-8 heading into Friday night’s showdown with Heart of America Athletic Conference leader Central Methodist in St. Charles. Lindenwood is currently 11-6 in HAAC play.

  The Lions have been successful under Soderberg in his signature style of play; a stout defense. The Lions are giving up only 62 points a game while limited opponents to 40 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent shooting from 3-point territory.

  Junior guard Richard Rose (Troy Buchanan High) is the leader of a balanced scoring attack. The 6’2” Rose is averaging nearly 14 points a game. His backcourt partner is 6’1” senior Joey Parker, a Division I transfer from Western Carolina. Parker averages 10 points a game while leading the team with 117 assists. The Lions’ top perimeter shooter is sophomore guard Brendan Kunkel  (Red Bud, Ill.)

  Up front, the Lions are paced by 6’3” senior power forward Toriano Adams and 6’11” sophomore center Brett Thompson. The 245-pound Adams averages 11.7 points and a team-high 10 rebounds a game. Thompson, a transfer from Saint Louis University, has averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds since becoming eligible in January. Providing more quality play up front is 6’6” forward Alfred Nelson (Chaminade) who began his collegiate career at Drury University.

  Lindenwood closes out the regular season with home games against Central Methodist and Mid-American Nazarene and a road contest at William Jewell.