HENDERSON — In a rematch of the 2025 Mid-South Conference Championship game, the No. 2 Freed-Hardeman University Lions hosted the No. 3 University of the Cumberlands Patriots. Though the score was different, the outcome was the same, with FHU claiming the 101-89 victory.
Freed-Hardeman (17-1, 2-0 MSC) fell behind early when the guests hit two of their game's 12 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the game. Despite the 8-2 deficit,
Lane Lauderbaugh added back-to-back jumpers before
Blake Dean hit the first of FHU's dozen 3-pointers to give the Lions a 9-8 lead. The Lions and Patriots traded scores with neither team holding a lead of more than two possessions, with
Jamarcus Powell's layup at 9:38 giving FHU a 25-20 lead. The Patriots battled back to score six unanswered points to retake the lead, then tallying three triples in the last four minutes to take a 43-37 lead. Powell and
Jailen Anderson drove to score layups to trim FHU's halftime deficit to a score of 43-41.
The first few minutes out of the locker room appeared to be the same war of attrition with Cumberlands (15-3, 0-2 MSC) maintaining their lead. That all changed at 17:04 when
Phil Horton tied the game 48-48 and FHU stormed out to a 16-0 run highlighted by baskets from Horton, Dean, Henderson, and Powell. Holding the Patriots scoreless for 3:43 was the shot in the arm the Lions needed to keep their high-scoring opponents at bay. The final 12 minutes of play featured a veritable 3-point shooting contest with
Sam Powell connecting for four long balls in the second half to keep FHU's lead at double digits. The Lions would tack on 11 points from the charity stripe in the last five minutes to seal the 101-89 victory.
The 101 points scored against the Patriots is the most any FHU team has scored against the powerhouse squad. FHU and UC shared 12 3-point field goals, but it was the Lions' depth that proved the difference-maker with FHU's bench scoring 56 points to the Patriots' 23.
Sam Powell tied his career's best scoring mark with 23 points by going 5-for-8 from long range.
DJ McIntyre followed with 18 points while
Blake Dean added 16.
Rodney Henderson continued his good start to league play with 10 points. Henderson led FHU at the glass with seven rebounds.
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Up Next
No game in the Mid-South Conference is comfortable, with FHU hitting the road to visit Lindsey Wilson on January 15, Campbellsville on January 17, and Bethel on January 22.
