Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - A last second three pointer was just what the doctor ordered Saturday night for the Freed-Hardeman Lion Basketball team, as Marcus Baldwin's buzzer beater gave the Lions an 80-79 victory over Bethel University at the Brewer Sports Center.

After trailing by 10 with 5:43 remaining in regulation, the Lions (3-6) found another gear and out-shot the Wildcats 20-9 in the final five minutes to secure the comeback win. Baldwin scored the final five points of the game for FHU, as he knocked down two clutch free throws to pull the Lions within two points at the 79-77 mark and drained the buzzer beater three ball to send the Lions home with their third win of the season.

Baldwin led the Lions on the attack and ended the night with 20 points, 16 of which came in the second half, to secure the win for the Lions. Ehab Eltayeb followed close behind with 14 points after shooting an impressive 6-for-7 from the field and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. Jahmeel Watts and Simon Fransis also reached double digits for the Lions, as Watts ended the night with 13 points while Fransis chipped in 12 points in the win.

The Lions ended the night shooting 48 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the arc compared to Bethel University (8-5), who shot 35 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the arc. Despite shooting just 20 percent from behind the arc in the second half, the Lions more than made up for it inside the three point line, as they shot a 50 percent clip from the field.

Isaac Edmondson paced the Wildcats on the attack and fired in 27 points, 12 of which came at the charity stripe. Edmondson nearly reached a double-double in the match-up, as he pulled down nine rebounds to go along with his impressive shooting. Three other Bethel players reached double digits including Chase Nappier who chipped in 13 points while Jarred Walker and Charles Cobb each chipped in 11 points in the loss.

The Lions started the game hot and jumped out to an early lead at the 9-3 mark and would not relinquish their lead for the remainder of the frame. FHU reached their largest lead of the half at the 37-26 mark with 3:45 remaining in the opening stanza. However, the Wildcats would not let FHU pull away for good, as they out-shot the Lions 12-4 to close the half and enter the break down just three points at the 41-38 mark.

Despite trailing the entire first half, the Wildcats came out with confidence in the second half and out-shot the Lions 15-4 in the opening seven minutes of the frame to take a nine point lead at the 54-45 mark with 13 minutes remaining in regulation.

Bethel kept their foot on the gas pedal over the next seven minutes and reached their largest lead of the game at the 68-57 mark with six minutes remaining. However, just as the Wildcats would not allow FHU to pull away in the first half, the Lions followed suit in the second frame and began to chip away at the lead.

Over the next five minutes of the game, the Lions out-shot the Wildcats 20-11 to close the gap to one point at the 78-77 mark with under a minute remaining in regulation following two clutch free throws by Baldwin. Jarred Walker put the Wildcats up by two points at the 79-77 mark after making one of two free throws at the foul line.

Baldwin; however, would not let the game come down to free throws, as he led the Lions down the court with five seconds remaining and fired in the game winning three pointer to lift the Lions to an 80-79 victory.

With the win, the Lions move to 3-6 on the season. Bethel University falls to 8-5 on the season with the loss.

UP NEXT: The Lions are back in action Thursday, December 14th, as they resume conference play and host No. 6 Columbia College. The Lady Lions get things started first at 5:30 PM followed by the men's game at 7:30 PM at the Brewer Sports Center.