No. 8 Lions take care of Tigers

January 14, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. —  The Freed-Hardeman University Lions dominated the first five minutes of their contest against the Campbellsville (Ky.) University Tigers on Saturday night. While the Tigers battled back, it was the home-standing Lions who claimed the victory 77-55.

Ryley McClaran opened the scoring for FHU (16-3, 12-1 MSC) with a 3-pointer before the Tigers sunk a pair of free throws. For the next five minutes, it was all FHU, as the Lions screamed ahead to a 12-2 lead while not allowing the Campbellsville offense to connect for a field goal until a 3-pointer with 13:27 remaining in the opening half. The 3-pointer was answered by a triple from Phil Horton to spark a 7-0 streak for FHU scoring. The Lions would lead by as many as 23 in the first half thanks in part to three lengthy streaks. A 10-0 run to begin the game, a 7-0 run from 12:56 to 8:31, before capturing another 10-0 run to lead 33-10 with 4:36 left before intermission. McClaran ended the half the same way he began it, with a 3-pointer, to exit for halftime with FHU leading 42-19.

The second half was more favorable to the Tigers, (7-12, 2-11 MSC) who nearly doubled their turnover mark, after forcing the Lions into five in the first half, Campbellsville forced nine FHU turnovers in the second frame. Hunter Scurlock would draw an and-one opportunity at 16:53, converting the old-fashioned three-point play to give FHU a 50-26 lead. The final five minutes of the game was the "Brandon Thomas" show, where the senior scored seven straight points to settle the score with FHU victorious 77-55.

Brandon Thomas led FHU's scoring output, going 7-9 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line to tally a team-high 18 points. Ryley McClaran's three 3-pointers helped him to a 13-point contest, while Phil Horton's deep threes chipped in for an 11-point game. Hunter Scurlock was 4-5 from the field including a triple to give him 10 points. Horton led the Lions at the glass, grabbing six rebounds, while Scurlock nabbed four steals.

Up Next

The Lions will travel to Portsmouth, Ohio, where they await the (RV) Shawnee State (Ohio) University Bears on Thursday, January 19, at 6:30 p.m.