Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The No. 3 Freed-Hardeman Lion basketball team looks to continue their hot start to the 2015-16 season as they travel to Williams Baptist (Ark.) College tonight for a 7:30 PM matchup in Walnut Ridge, Ark.

SETTING THE STAGE

FHU (12-2, 6-0 AMC) enters tonight's matchup coming off a solid 93-83 win over Central Baptist (Ark.) College (4-7, 1-5 AMC) on Saturday, January 2. Isaiah Harrison led the charge for the Lions as he posted his seventh double-double of the season with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Sophomore Fitzgerald Hopkins followed close behind off the bench as he shot a perfect 5-for-5 from three point range and finished with 17 points.

Orlando Bass and Trevor Randolph also reached double figures in the matchup as Bass finished with 15 points and five rebounds while Randolph went 4-for-7 from behind the arc and finished with 14 points. Evan Forhetz, who ranks No. 1 in the NAIA in assists per game (7.538) continued his impressive play with seven points and nine assists.

FHU shot 44 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc in the game compared to Central Baptist who shot just 40 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range. Both teams were fairly even on the glass as FHU held a 47-46 edge in the matchup.

The Lions came out firing to start the game as they jumped out to an early 18-9 lead with 15:52 remaining in the first half. However, despite leading by as many as 13 in the half, the Lions never felt comfortable as each time they started to pull away, the Mustangs would come right back to close the gap.

Despite trailing the entire first half, Central Baptist was able to cut a 13-point FHU lead to five points at the 48-43 mark with 1:42 remaining as they out-shot the Lions 21-14 to close the half. However, the Lions would finish the half strong with a 3-point field goal by Orlando Bass to take a 51-45 lead into the half.

The Mustangs would come out firing to start the second half as Fred Albright would connect on a 3-point field goal to cut the FHU lead to three less than a minute into the second half. Both teams would continue to go back-and-forth the remainder of the game as the second half saw three ties.

However, FHU would never trail in the matchup as they were able to keep a slight cushion the entire game. Central Baptist would attempt to make a late push as they cut the lead to three points at the 83-80 mark with 5:49 remaining in the game. However, as they have done all season long, the Lions would finish the game strong as they out-shot the Mustangs 10-3 in the final five minutes to pick up the 93-83 victory.

Williams Baptist College (4-4, 2-3 AMC) enters tonight's matchup coming off a 73-58 victory over Lyon (Ark.) College on Saturday, January 2 to pick up their second conference win of the season. Junior guard E.J. Rucker led the Eagles in total offense with 26 points as he went 5-for-6 from behind the arc. Braxton Gillespie also contributed on the offensive end with 11 points and four rebounds while Tevin Howard had eight points and three assists.

INSIDE THE SERIES

The Lions faced Williams Baptist three times last season, twice in conference play and once in the AMC Tournament semifinals. The first meeting between the two schools last season was on January 6, 2015 as the Lions traveled to Walnut Ridge and were defeated 67-68 in the tight matchup.

The Eagles closed the game by out-scoring FHU, 17-10, over the last 5:15 to hand the Lions their second loss of the season and first in conference play. In a back-and-forth game, FHU created a bit of space and built a six-point lead with 5:28 to play. However, similar to the first half, the Lions went cold and the Eagles took advantage by going on a 14-1 run while Freed-Hardeman didn't make a field goal from that point until a minute to play.

In the second match up between the two schools at the Brewer Sports Center on February 23, the Lions had a much easier time with Williams Baptist as they defeated the Eagles 72-60 in the matchup. The first half was tight the whole way with five lead changes and four ties. FHU led by seven with 4:30 remaining in the half, but a 9-2 run by Williams Baptist quickly erased it. Fouls made a big difference early, as the Lions shot just four free throws in the first half compared the Eagles, who shot 13.

The second half was even tighter as Williams Baptist made a late run in the game; however, Senior Ben Meis would come up big in the matchup with multiple timely 3-point field goals to help the Lions close out the game and split the series with the Eagles. Meis finished the game with 21 points as he went 7-for-10 from behind the arc. Cameron Lewis followed close behind with 18 points and four assists while Debrell McLemore finished with 10 points and three assists.

The final matchup between the two schools last season was in the AMC semifinals on March 7 as the Lions came away with a 74-66 victory, despite trailing for a majority of the game. WBC's James McClain came out on fire, scoring 18 points in the first half and helping the Eagles to a 10-point lead at the 4:10 mark. However, Evan Forhetz would answer with a 3-pointer and layup as time expired to cut the deficit down to four at the break.

Williams Baptist never made it fewer than a two-possession game the rest of the way, even though FHU made 4-of-8 from the line in the final minute. Forhetz and Cameron Lewis led Freed-Hardeman in total offense, each with 17 points, while Isaiah Harrison had 15.

The Lions will look to continue their hot start to the season and remain unbeaten in conference play tonight as they tip off at 7:30 PM following the women's game in Walnut Ridge, Ark.

COVERAGE:

LIVE VIDEO, LIVE STATS, TWITTER