A defensive change from the hosting (RV) University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots turned a 17-point deficit midway through the first half to climb all the way back to tie matters late in the second. FHU free-throw shooting saved the day as the Freed-Hardeman University Lions escaped with an 83-78 win.
JaQuan Lax opened the night for the Lions (14-2, 10-0 MSC) with a 3-pointer on the first shot of the game. The Lions had a big set of runs in the opening frame to provide separation from the UC Patriots. After a steal and score from JJ Wheat, Ryley McClaran bucketed four points to help the Lions take a 13-4 lead with 17:03 remaining. The Patriots responded in turn, scoring 11 unanswered points to take a two-point advantage to lead 18-16 with 13:24 remaining. That surge proved short-lived as the hosts were unable to find the bucket, going 1-11 from the floor for the remaining 10 minutes of the first half. The FHU Lions on the other hand shot the lights out, scoring 17 unanswered points to stun the Patriots with a 40-23 lead. The Patriot free-throw shooting kept the hosts alive to finish the half. While the Cumberlands were unsuccessful from the field, they went 10-13 from the charity stripe to head to intermission with FHU leading 48-35.
The UC Patriots (11-5, 5-5 MSC) made a defensive shift into zone coverage in the second half, and it proved to give the Lions difficulties. FHU gave up eight turnovers in the second frame compared to the six they coughed up in the first. For the first 10 minutes of the half, the Lions were unable to score more than four unanswered points. The Patriots; meanwhile, had no issue getting the ball to the net, going on an 11-0 run across three minutes to cut into FHU’s lead to 66-62. Brandon Thomas and Geraldo Lane put points on the board to break the dry spell, but it was not long before the 17-point comeback was complete when a Patriot free throw tied the game 70-70 with 3:37 remaining in regulation. The Lions never allowed the Patriots to take a lead, with Peyton Law and McClaran scoring key buckets in the waning minutes to give FHU the 83-78 win.
The Lions again shot above 500 as a team, shooting 51.6% from the field, compared to the Patriots’ 42.7% night.
Brandon Thomas was back to fine form, bucketing a team-high 20 points, shooting 10-12 from the field while giving out three assists. JJ Wheat followed with 13 points and swiped a team-high five steals. Ryley McClaran was stellar from the free-throw line, going 8-10 to help him to 12 points. Geraldo Lane and Peyton Law rounded out the FHU point leaders, bucketing 11 each. Law led the Lions at the boards, pulling down six rebounds.
