Box Score
Lindenwood boxscore in PDF
Photo gallery from Lindenwood game
The Maryville men’s basketball team was looking to build its first six-game winning streak since 2004, but Lindenwood rallied to post a 61-53 victory Saturday afternoon at Moloney Arena. The loss was the first for the Saints since Nov. 20 as Maryville fell to 8-2 on the season.
The Saints jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead as the held the Lions without a point for almost six minutes.
Trae Pemberton scored on a layup, and
Gerald Shaw also converted inside.
Melvin Turner and
Asa Toney also scored in close for the eight-point lead. The Saints defense forced four straight Lindenwood turnovers as the Lions were unable to even get a shot off. The Maryville defense also caused the visitors to miss their first five attempts before the Lions hit a 3-pointer to finally get on the scoreboard. Lindenwood cut the gap to 9-8 before Pemberton scored to give the Saints a cushion. Still leading 11-10, Maryville scored five straight points to edge out to a 16-10 margin with seven minutes to play in the first half. The Saints eventually settled for a 23-20 lead at the break.
Pemberton sank a 3-pointer early in the second half to provide a 26-20 lead. The Lions slowly chipped away at the deficit and twice cut the lead to just one. Lindenwood took its first lead of the game 37-36 with 12 minutes left to play to set up a see-saw battle down the stretch. Shaw scored to put the Saints back on to 38-37 but the Lions answered with a 3-pointer.
Max Mischkulnig scored to tie the game at 42-42 before the Lions built a 48-44 lead with 6:39 left to play.
Armon Provo drained a 3-pointer, and a 3-point play by Asa Toney put Maryville on top 50-48. However, the Lions tallied the next nine points to edge out to a 57-50 lead with under a minute left to play. Toney drilled a long trey from the top of the key to get the Saints to 57-53, but the Lions hit four straight free throws down the stretch to hold off the Saints.
Pemberton hit 6-of-8 shots to lead the Saints with 14 points, while Toney added 13 points and four assists. Alex Bazzell converted 15-of-18 free throws en route to a game-high 22 points to pace the Lions (5-3.)
The Saints are back in action Monday when they host Missouri Baptist in a 7 p.m. game, the final home contest of 2012.
