Forced turnovers lead Lions to league win

November 17, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — The Freed-Hardeman University Lions forced the University of Pikeville (Ky.) Bears to turn the ball over 19 times in Thursday night's Mid-South Conference opener. The Lions would turn those takeaways into 24 points, propelling FHU to an 85-65 victory. 

The Lions (2-2, 1-0 MSC) were off and running, utilizing a seven-point run at the start of the game to push their lead to six with a 9-3 advantage early. Ryley McClaran's long 3-pointer with 14:00 left continued to allow FHU to maintain the lead, now by seven nearing the midway mark of the half. It was the deep ball that eventually benefited Pikeville, who knocked down back-to-back trays to pull within two points, eventually tying the Lions 19-19 with a pair of made free throws. FHU began pulling ahead with another McClaran triple and a thunderous dunk from Peyton Law put the Lions ahead by 11 with a little under four minutes left in the half. Brandon Thomas continued to take and make high-percentage shots, tallying two layups to close the half with FHU on top 41-31.

The Lions came out of the locker room just as hot as they entered, with McClaran getting four quick points in the paint after the Bears (2-2, 0-1 MSC) continued to struggle to maintain possession. The Lions kept the Bears at bay in the second half, never letting them closer than 12 points. A 3-pointer and a layup from UPIKE looked to make things interesting with 13:14 left, but Freed-Hardeman would explode with 10 unanswered points, beginning and ending with 3-pointers from the hands of JaQuan Lax. After Law slammed home another dunk, the younger players were allowed some playing time, with Phil Horton tallying a 3-pointer and Dalton Colbert going 2-for-2 from the free-throw line to end the game in favor of FHU 85-65.

As a team, the Lions shot very efficiently, shooting 52% from the field, and going 11-for-27 from long range. Despite being out-rebounded on the offensive boards 14 to eight, FHU capitalized better by scoring 12 second-chance points to the Bears' eight.

FHU had five Lions end in double figures, led by Ryley McClaran's 17-point output. Behind him was Peyton Law with 15 points, followed by JaQuan Lax and Peyton Law both tallying 11. Brandon Thomas's 10-point night was coupled with a team-high six rebounds. Coming off the bench, Zach Baugher and Alex Rush both dished out season-highs of three assists.

Up Next

The Lions will defend their den against another team of Bears - this time from Shawnee State (Ohio) University on Saturday, November 19. Tipping off after the ladies' contest, the men are scheduled to get underway at 3:00 p.m.