By: Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director
The No. 11 Freed-Hardeman University Lions were deadly from 3-point range in Saturday afternoon’s matchup with the Bethel (Tenn.) University Wildcats. The men in maroon connected for 16 triples at a 59% clip to help propel the Lions to a 100-54 win.
Known for their gritty defense, the Lions (14-2, 2-0 MSC) made that known early by forcing a five-second violation before Bethel could get started. Hunter Scurlock and Quan Lax would bucket layups before Chase Fiddler’s tray at 17:21 sparked the Lion range and gave FHU an 8-5 lead with 16:46 to go in the first half. It was Devin Tomlinson’s 3-pointer that opened up a 13-0 run by the Lions, ending at 11:07 with FHU holding a 16-point edge. The Lions made fantastic moves to cut through the defense, where 40 of their points came off of layups. Tomlinson and Fiddler were joined by Gerlado Lane from long range before Hunter Scurlock sank a buzzer-beating desperation 3-pointer after a steal to give FHU a comfortable 54-22 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Bethel (11-6, 0-1 MSC) defense was able to keep the Lions from going on one of their deadly runs, not allowing more than five FHU points between their own baskets. The Lion defense helped to break things open when the Lions would not allow Bethel to make a single field goal from the 5:18 mark of the second half until the end of the game – as the Wildcats finished 0-11 from the floor. Meanwhile, Lane and Fiddler were joined from long range by Dalton Colbert and Grigorii Sibilev, who helped but the Wildcats away for good in the 100-54 victory.
The Lions went 60% from the field while the Wildcats were 26%. The Lions were fearsome on breakaways, scoring 27 fast break points to Bethel’s seven. The Lions also moved the ball well to tally 22 assists to BU’s six.
Devin Tomlinson led FHU’s offense, scoring a career-high 19 points by going 5-7 from 3-point land. Far from the only Lion with double figures, Quan Lax followed with 16 points, while Geraldo Lane and JJ Wheat each contributed 14 points. Chase Fiddler would match his season-high of 13 points, going 3-6 from deep. Phil Horton and Hunter Scurlock were the glass men, grabbing eight rebounds each. Quan Lax led the assist column with six helpers.
Up next: FHU will move on to its first conference road trip, first visiting the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College on Thursday, January 16, at 3:00 p.m. before traveling to Campbellsville (Ky.) University on Saturday, January 20, to tip off at 2 p.m.
