HENDERSON — Playing in his final game the Brewer Sports Center,
Phil Horton put up his career's best performance, scoring 34 points to help push the No. 1 Freed-Hardeman University Lions to an 80-72 victory overh the (RV) Bethel (Kan.) College Threshers to win the Henderson Regional Presented by the Bramblett Group of the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship Second Round.
Rico Sain sank the first basket for the top-seeded Lions (31-1) before the No. 9 seed Threshers immediately answered with back-to-back triples. Bethel would maintain a slight advantage until Horton swished back-to-back 3-pointer to give FHU the lead 18-15.
Blake Dean chipped in with a 3-pointer before Horton tallied another back-to-back pair, including one shot from his hometown of Somerville, to force a Bethel timeout with FHU leading by 11.
Lane Lauderbaugh would score an old-fashioned three-point play to close the half with the Lions holding a 41-28 lead.
Continuing his big first half, Horton swished a 3-pointer to start the second half before Lauderbaugh would score four fast break points to push the FHU lead over Bethel (22-9) to a game-high 20 points with 8:43 remaining. The Threshers began to find rhythm from long range, hitting five triples in the last five minutes, but free throws from
DJ McIntyre, Horton, and Sain closed out the 80-72 victory.
The Lions shot 51% from the field including 10 3-pointers. FHU forced 24 turnovers in the victory while dominating the paint with 30 points in the key to Bethel's 14.
Phil Horton's career-best 34 points came on a night with 11-for-14 shooting including seven 3-pointers.
Lane Lauderbaugh was the next highest scorer with 14, while
Rico Sain added 11. Horton also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds while
DJ McIntyre led wth five steals.
Up Next
The Lions will advance to the round of 16 in Kansas City, Missouri, for the fourth consecutive season. The Lions await No. 20 Northwestern (Iowa) College, who drew a four-seed in the tournament. Tipoff from Municipal Auditorium is March 19 at 5:00 p.m.
