Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lion basketball team will look to pick up their third win of the season tonight as they host in-state opponent Cumberland (Tenn.) University in a 7:30 PM match up at the Brewer Sports Center.

SETTING THE STAGE

FHU (2-1) is coming into Tuesday's match up off an impressive 91-82 victory over No. 11 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College on Saturday. AMC Player of the Week Orlando Bass led the Lions in scoring for a fourth straight game with 26 points and eight rebounds in the contest. Isaiah Harrison added another double-double for the season as he put up 17 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Sophomore Austin Dempsey nearly had a double-double of his own as he shot 3 for 7 from three-point range and had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Martin Methodist would make a late push in the second half as they were able to get within four points at the 78-74 mark with just under four minutes to play. However, four points would be the closest the Redhawks would get as the Lions would extend their lead back to nine to close out the game and pick up the 91-82 victory.

Cumberland University (4-3) is coming into Tuesday's match up off an 81-73 loss to Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College on Thursday, November 12. Devarus Craig led the Bulldogs in scoring with 15 points while Cedric Nash had 14 points in the loss. Broderick Davis and Oskar Reinfelds led the Redhawks in total offense, each with 19 points while Darius Forrest contributed a double-double performance with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Martin Methodist shot 47 percent from the field and 47 percent from behind the arc in the win. The Bulldogs shot 45 percent from the field in the loss. Cumberland split the series with Martin Methodist this season as they defeated the Redhawks 68-66 in their season opener on November 2.

LAST TIME THEY MET

The last meeting between FHU and Cumberland University was last season on January 12 as the Lions defeated the Bulldogs 67-59 on the way to their fourteenth win of the season.

FHU ran out to a 24-7 lead in the game with 9:00 remaining in the first half off impressive shooting from Ben Meis, who knocked down his first three 3-pointers. The Lions would allow Cumberland to climb back in the game after a stretch of cold shooting, where they went just 1 for 11 from the field to close out the half with the Bulldogs cutting the lead to five.

The Bulldogs would go on another run in the second half to pull within five points with 1:31 remaining in the game as they scored on five straight possessions. However, Cameron Lewis would come up big with a dagger, canning a 17-footer with 43 seconds left to put FHU back up by seven as CU only managed a free throw for the remainder of the game.

The Lions will look to add another win to their impressive out-of conference schedule. So far this season the Lions have only played ranked opponents including No. 3 Talladega (Ala.) College and No. 11 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College. The only other match up for the Lions this season was an exhibition contest with NCAA Division 1 Murray State (Ky.) University, whom they defeated 87-85 in overtime. The Lions will look to go to 3-1 on the season with a win tonight.

FHU will have a busy schedule this week as tonight begins the first of a three-game home-stand schedule. The Lions will open their conference schedule on Thursday with a 7:30 PM match up with Harris Stowe State (Mo.) University followed by a 4:00 PM match up against Lindenwood (Ill.) University-Belleville on Saturday, November 21.

COVERAGE

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