MCKENZIE, Tenn. — Despite trailing by as many as 18 points the No. 1 Freed-Hardeman University Lions clawed their way back in the second half, but ultimately fell one shot short with the Bethel University Wildcats winning the 74-72 league matchup.
Makai Vassell got the Freed-Hardeman (20-4, 5-3 MSC) scoring started with a jumper before
Jayson Nixon hit the first 3-pointer of the game. The Lions' largest lead came at 16:07 when
Blake Dean hit a triple to push FHU's lead to five. Both teams hit a pair of free throws before the Wildcats detonated a 17-2 run across five minutes. The Lions finally got back on track with
Jordan Stephens and
Peyton Law ending the half with points in the paint before the half ended with the Lions trailing 43-28.
Bethel (16-8, 4-5 MSC) had three quick points to start the second act to extend their lead to 18 before the Lions began chipping away at the lead.
Phil Horton connected for a 3-pointer at 15:59 to open a 12-point run ending with a set of free throws from Nixon. The Wildcats responded with seven unanswered points before Horton, Stephens, and
Geraldo Lane scored seven straight to pull FHU within two possessions.
Makai Vassell went 4-4 from the line in the span of 14 seconds to pull the Lions within one point at 71-70, but a late layup and free throw put the game out of reach in the 74-72 loss.
Both teams shot the ball well with FHU going 53.3% from the floor while Bethel was successful 47.1% of the time. The biggest differential came at the glass with the Wildcats out-rebounding the Lions 36-20. FHU had a difficult time at the free-throw line, going 19-32 to shoot 59.4%.
Jordan Stephens led the charge with 18 points followed by
Makai Vassell's 12 points.
Peyton Law tallied 11 while
Geraldo Lane ended with 10. Lane led the FHU rebounding with six.
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Up Next
The Lions return to Henderson to host the Cumberland Phoenix on February 13 with a tipoff time of 7:30 p.m.
