JACKSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lions bounced back from Tuesday's road loss with a pair of wins in the Union University Thanksgiving Classic, including one over the No. 9 ranked team in the NAIA.

The wins improve FHU's overall record to 6-4 as the Lions prepare to open conference play on Thursday at Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) University in Nashville.

Freed-Hardeman's pre-conference schedule was certainly no cakewalk. The Lions played games against three opponents in the pre-season top 10 and another against a team that came in just outside the top 25. Of the 10 games, seven were either on the road or at a neutral site.

On Friday, the Lions won an 80-79 nailbiter over No. 9 McKendree (Ill.) College. Zack Frey's basket with :36 left put the Lions up by one. After burning three fouls to disrupt McKendree's attempts to set up for a last-second shot, FHU forced a miss but Wesley Mayes was whistled for a foul on the rebound attempt. With no time on the clock, McKendree's Andy Wolf had a chance to send the game into overtime or win it outright.

He did neither, missing the front end of the bonus to secure the win for Freed-Hardeman. Frey, who scored FHU's last six points, finished the night with 16. Shun Trevillian led the team with 20 points and eight assists.

On Saturday, the Lions doubled their margin of victory in knocking off William Carey (Miss.) College, 73-71. Frey and Tyler Jennings combined for 29 points in the post while Jesse Moulton and Kristoffer Smith each scored 10 points.