EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Interstat) — A key early-season Ohio Valley Conference clash is set for Tuesday night when the surging Lindenwood Lions visit the SIU Edwardsville Cougars at the Vadalabene Center.

Both teams enter with winning records and momentum from competitive league openers. Lindenwood (10-5, 1-0 OVC) edged Southern Indiana 83-80 on Saturday, while SIU Edwardsville (9-6, 1-1) suffered a narrow 73-72 home loss to Morehead State the same day.

The Lions have won six of their last seven, with their only loss in that stretch a five-point road defeat at Missouri State. Their offense has been potent, scoring 92 or more points in three of their last five games. They are led by forward Milos Nenadic, who is coming off a dominant 22-point, 9-rebound performance against Southern Indiana. Over his last three games against Division I competition, Nenadic is averaging 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds.

The Cougars aim to bounce back and protect their home court after the last-second loss to Morehead State. They had previously opened OVC play with a 59-55 win over Southern Indiana. Forward Darrion Baker, who scored a team-high 15 points in the loss, will be a focal point for SIU Edwardsville. The Cougars have shown defensive grit, holding three of their last four DI opponents under 66 points.

The matchup features contrasting styles: Lindenwood’s high-scoring attack against SIU Edwardsville’s stiffer defense. The Lions’ Robert Lewis, who posted a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double last game, and the Cougars’ CJ Hall, who had 10 points and five assists against Morehead State, will also be key contributors.

This game is the first of a home-and-home series between the teams, who will meet again in St. Charles, Missouri, on Feb. 3. Tuesday’s winner will gain an early advantage in the conference standings.