Preview: Lindenwood Lions at Western Illinois Leathernecks

MACOMB, Ill. (Interstat) — A clash of teams heading in opposite directions will unfold Saturday when the Lindenwood Lions visit the Western Illinois Leathernecks in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game at Western Hall.

The Lions (16-13 overall) enter the matchup looking to solidify their standing and snap a three-game skid. Lindenwood’s recent losses came against Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State and Southeast Missouri State after a stretch that saw them win four of five games. They are led by forward Jadis Jones, who is averaging a double-double over his last four contests. Jones is coming off a 14-rebound, 8-point performance in the loss to Tennessee Tech and scored 22 points in a narrow win over Tennessee-Martin on Feb. 12.

Conversely, Western Illinois (5-24) seeks any positive momentum during a difficult season. The Leathernecks have lost 10 of their last 11 games, with their sole victory in that span a 79-70 home win over Eastern Illinois on Feb. 10. Their most recent outing was an 81-59 home loss to Morehead State. Forward Goanar Biliew, who scored 14 points in that defeat, will be a key player for the Leathernecks as they look to improve offensively.

The teams met earlier this season, with Lindenwood securing a decisive 92-76 victory at home on Dec. 18. That result underscores the divergent paths of the two programs this season.

For Lindenwood, the game represents a critical opportunity to regain form and add a road win against a struggling conference foe. For Western Illinois, it is a chance to play spoiler and find a rare bright spot in a challenging campaign. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.