HENDERSON — Despite the cheers of a Homecoming crowd, the No. 4 Freed-Hardeman University Lions were unable to complete the comeback against the No. 12 LSU Alexandria Generals ina 69-63 loss.
Neither the Lions (4-1) nor the Generals could find the hoop with consistency to start the game with the Lions going 3-18 in the first 15 minutes, while LSUA were 2-15 with a stretch of 11 straight misses. The low-scoring first half featured a nine-point run by the Lions that ended with a dunk from
Peyton Law at 12:44 to give FHU a 9-5 edge, but the Generals stormed back with 11 straight points to take a 16-9 lead. It was the fast-break that kept FHU in the first half with
Brian Carter and
Geraldo Lane both tallying layups off the break before
Ryley McClaran's layup ended the half with the Lions trailing 26-22.
McClaran put the Lions on his back to start the second half, draining back-to-back 3-pointers to flip the script to give the Lions a 28-26 lead over LSUA (4-0). From there, the two heavyweights traded blows with neither team taking more than a two-possession lead. Carter and Lane teamed up again at 12:37 to give the Lions a three-point edge, but the Generals followed with seven straight points. The Lions' last lead came at 9:31 when McClaran converted the rare 4-point play to put the Lions up 51-50. The Generals would then score six late points on the fast break to keep the game out of reach of FHU in the 69-63 final.
The Lions shot 32% from the field while the Generals shot 41%. Both defenses played string with both teams collecting nine steals each and combining for 13 blocks.
Ryley McClaran was the top goal-scorer for the Lions, going 6-14 from the floor to tally 22 points.
Geraldo Lane was not far behind with a 18 points and finishing two boards shy of a double-double with a team-high eight rebounds. Lane slapped away four blocks and was joined by
Phil Horton with three steals each.
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Up Next
The Lions will host the No. 14 Central Baptist (Ark.) College Mustangs on November 14 for a rematch of the quarterfinals in the 2024 National Tournament. The Lions got the better of the Mustangs in Kansas City with an 85-74 victory. Tipoff from the Brewer Sports Center is 7:00 p.m.
