KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The No. 1 seed Freed-Hardeman University Lions nearly doubled up the eight-seed Benedictine University Mesa (Ariz.) Redhawks, 61-39, in the second half to advance to the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship with a 96-71 victory.
The Fab Four contest opened with 3-pointers from both squads with the first five combined baskets coming from beyond the arc. The Lions (34-1) would fall victim to a 7-0 run by the Redhawks before
Jailen Anderson tallied back-to-back layups to tie the game at 13-13.
Lane Lauderbaugh joined with the next six FHU points before
DJ McIntyre drained a 3-pointer at 6:10 to give the Lions back the lead. FHU then scored 11 of the next 13 points to take an eight-point lead before BENU scored five points in the last 24 seconds to send FHU to intermission clinging to a 35-32 lead.
The Lions drove into the paint at the start of the second half, with a jumper in the key from Lauderbaugh to make it a double-figure lead over the Redhawks (28-7) at 16:29. Benedictine Mesa would have a timely seven-point run ending at 6:57 to narrow the FHU lead to single figures at 68-60. The Freed-Hardeman defense clamped down and kept the Redhawks off of the scoreboard for the final 2:35 while closing out the semifinal contest with 12 unanswered points to advance to their second championship game in three years with a 96-71 win.
FHU forced 18 turnovers in the win, turning those into 24 points in transition. The Lions shot 53% from the floor, their highest total of the tournament, while holding the opposition to 42%.
Lane Lauderbaugh led all scorers with 22 points, the first of five Lions in double figures.
Phil Horton chipped in with 15 points while
Jailen Anderson and
Caleb Thomas each tallied 12.
Rico Sain helped the Lion cause with 10 points. Anderson led FHU at the window, grabbing seven rebounds, while
DJ McIntyre led the defense with five takeaways.
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Up Next
The Lions will fight for the Big Red Banner at 7:00 p.m. on March 24 against the winner of No. 3 seed Ave Maria (Fla.) University and fourth-seeded Langston (Okla.) University.
