HENDERSON — Despite trailing a majority of the first half, the No. 2 Freed-Hardeman University Lions used a set of scoring runs in the second frame to defeat the No. 16 Georgetown College Tigers, 80-67, to open Mid-South Conference play.
It was a back-and-forth start to the game with neither team holding a lead of more than one possession until Freed-Hardeman (16-1, 1-0 MSC) fell victim to a nine-point swing by the visitors.
Sam Powell answered with a 3-pointer before GC added more points to claim their largest lead of the contest at 28-19. The Lions would begin to work the paint with
Phil Horton,
Rico Sain, and
Jailen Anderson all netting layups before
Lane Lauderbaugh's layup ended the first half with the Lions down 32-29.
The Lions got started with a bang after Horton dunked home the first basket of the half before Powell's triple gave FHU the lead at 34-32. That lead would be short-lived as Georgetown (13-4, 0-1 MSC) promptly scored seven straight points to take a five-point lead. Undeterred, Horton chipped away with a layup with
DJ McIntyre joining in with a 3-pointer to tie the game 39-39. A few more score changes happened before
Jamarcus Powell's old-fashioned three-point play at 11:34 gave the Lions a lead they would never surrender. Between layups from Sain and Anderson,
Caleb Thomas added a 3-pointer to make it a 56-52 Lion lead.
Rodney Henderson helped spark an 8-0 run that ended with FHU leading by 12. Henderson's layup at 2:27 would be the last basket made from the floor with the Lions hitting their late free throws to secure the 80-67 win.
FHU shot 53% from the floor in the victory while forcing 19 Georgetown turnovers and turning those into 21 points.
Rodney Henderson went 6-10 from the floor to lead FHU's offensive output.
Phil Horton tallied 12 points while
Lane Lauderbaugh added 11 points in the victory. Lauderbaugh led at the window with six rebounds while Horton had a team-high four assists.
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Up Next
In what is one of the most anticipated matchups in the year, the Lions host the No. 3 University of the Cumberlands Patriots in a rematch of the 2025 Mid-South Conference Championship. No. 2 hosts No. 3 on January 10 at 3:00 p.m.
