KINGSPORT, Tenn. — With a new ranking, the No. 3 Freed-Hardeman University Lions' defense forced 30 turnovers to defeat the Columbia International (S.C.) University Rams, 81-49 at the first game of "The Show."

From the tipoff, it was all Freed-Hardeman (10-1) after Phil Horton joined Sam Powell and Rico Sain to push the Lions out to a 10-3 lead. The fast start was not short-lived when Sain's dunk opened an 11-0 run that ended at 11:12 with Jamarcus Powell's layup giving FHU a 21-8 edge. DJ McIntyre was boosting his free-throw percentage, going 6-7 from the charity stripe in the first half. CIU added five late points to end the half with a 38-22 Freed-Hardeman advantage.

The Rams (6-5) began the second with five quick points before McIntyre's 3-pointer was followed by a triple from Lane Lauderbaugh to push the FHU lead to 21 points. S. Powell took charge in the middle of the second half, scoring nine points in the span of two minutes with his steal and score at 12:24 making the FHU lead 59-32. McIntyre and S. Powell drained 3-pointers in the final five minutes before Rodney Henderson scored the last four points in the 81-49 win.

The Lions forced 30 turnovers while coughing the ball up themselves just six times. FHU then converted those turnovers to 38 points. Freed-Hardeman had 26 steals in the victory and 16 assists.

Sam Powell knocked down three 3-pointers in the win to score a team-high 19 points. DJ McIntyre followed by doubling his previous career-high with 18 points while Rodney Henderson bucketed 12 points. McIntyre also had a career high with six steals.
 

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