HENDERSON — Playing for the first time in 14 days, the No. 3 Lions of Freed-Hardeman University looked anything but rusty, defeating the No. 21 Keiser (Fla.) University Seahawks 95-72 in their final game of the 2024 half of the calendar.
After Kesier opened the game with a triple, the Lions (15-1) took advantage of early turnovers with
Peyton Law and
Makai Vassell both tallying fast break layups. For the first eight minutes, the score would stay within one possession until
Ryley McClaran drained back-to-back 3-pointers to ignite an 11-0 run for the men in maroon and white. After
Geraldo Lane's steal and score put the Lions on top 27-13, the Seahawks would answer by scoring eight points to FHU's two. Down the stretch McClaran got white hot from long range by sandwiching a Vassell dunk with a pair of triples before ending the half on an insane buzzer-beater from his hip pocket to end the first half with the Lions leading 51-29.
Â
Â
Though McClaran exited the break with another 3-pointer, it was Keiser (11-2) that came out of the break strong, going on a 13-5 run to force an FHU timeout with the Lions maintaining a 57-40 edge. Law would drive the lane to score six unanswered points before McClaran shared his 3-point magic with
Geraldo Lane and
Blake Dean who each tallied points from beyond the arc. In the final five minutes of the game, despite Keiser having one of the top defenses in the country, it was FHU's defense that forced six straight missed shots. During the last five minutes the Lions were 10-10 from the free-throw line to end the game with a 95-72 victory.
The Lions had great shooting from the floor as usual, going 56% from the field, including a 12-25 afternoon from 3-point land. Though out-rebounded as a whole 33-31, FHU grabbed 10 offensive rebounds to convert to 16 second-chance points. FHU's bench again showed off with 32 points to KU's eight.
Ryley McClaran was 7-8 from deep to score a game-high and season-high 23 points to lead five double-digit scorers. His seven 3-pointers broke his previous career high of six set back in February of last season against Georgetown. Peyton law was 6-7 from the charity stripe to help him to 16 points while
Phil Horton dropped 15 points.
Makai Vassell chipped in with 14 points while
Geraldo Lane tallied 10. Law and Vassell each grabbed the team-high of five rebounds with
Jayson Nixon leading the way with eight helpers.
Â
Up Next
The first half of the season is in the rear-view mirror with FHU going 15-1 in non-conference play during the 2024 calendar year. The Lions will flip to page to begin a new season: the gauntlet of Mid-South Conference play.
The Lions begin their quest for a third-straight MSC title against Bethel on January 11 with a 3:00 p.m. tipoff from the Brewer Sports Center.
Â
