East-West University vs Lindenwood prediction: Lindenwood's rebuilt roster gets a second home look against East-West
With last season's Lions almost entirely gone, this non-Division I visit is about who Kyle Gerdeman's newcomers turn out to be, not the opponent.
- Lindenwood should control a game against a non-Division I visitor; the real interest is how nine transfers and five freshmen fit together.
- Watch Xavier Spencer and Marsai Mason, the newcomers Lindenwood has highlighted, and how the minutes split among the freshmen.
- No spread or total has been posted; last season's pace ranked 9th, but almost none of that roster remains.
A roster built from scratch
Lindenwood enters 2026-27 rebuilt. An October release said the Lions return no players from last season, with five freshmen and nine transfers. A July roster announcement listed two returners, so the exact count is unsettled. Either way, this is a new team.
The program has pointed to Xavier Spencer and Marsai Mason as key additions, and freshmen RJ Chastang, Miles Elliott and Marko Lukanoski are on the roster. Starting roles haven't been confirmed. Jadis Jones and Joshua Hughes are among the players who left, both now listed at USC. No 2026-27 coaching change turned up for Kyle Gerdeman, who was in his seventh season last year.
What last season can't tell you
Last season's Lions went 18-15 and won with defense. They allowed 99.0 points per 100 possessions, 20th of 365, and played fast, ranking 9th in pace. That season ended with an OVC quarterfinal loss to Southeast Missouri.
With essentially no one back, those numbers describe a style Gerdeman has coached, not this roster. The early evidence is one exhibition: a 75-71 loss at Southern Illinois on Oct. 20. Lindenwood forced a shot-clock violation late with a chance to tie or lead, couldn't convert, and SIU iced it at the line with seven seconds left. A one-possession finish on the road was a competitive first look. The Lions were picked sixth in the OVC preseason poll.
Schedule and the visitor
This is the second of back-to-back home non-conference games, after Central Bible on Nov. 5. East-West plays at Tennessee State that same night before traveling to Saint Charles.
Little is known about the Phantoms' 2026-27 roster. Their most recent result on record is a 112-64 loss at Northern Illinois last December. The useful read here is Lindenwood's rotation, not the final margin.
Numbers that matter
| Exhibition at SIU | 75-71 | Lindenwood's only look this preseason was a narrow road loss decided by late free throws. |
|---|---|---|
| Defense last season | 20th | Last season's Lions allowed 99.0 points per 100 possessions, but that roster is essentially gone. |
| Pace last season | 9th | Gerdeman's team played fast last season; whether the newcomers do is unknown. |
| Last season's record | 18-15 | A winning year that ended in the OVC quarterfinals. |
East-West University vs Lindenwood: quick answers
When is East-West University vs Lindenwood?
Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 4:30 PM ET.