Lions use late push to scoot past FireHawks

February 16, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — Second-half heroics from the No. 22 Freed-Hardeman University Lions claim victory in a wire-to-wire Mid-South matchup with the (RV) University of Tennessee Southern FireHawks with a 76-63 final.

It was a 7-0 start for the hosting Lions (19-8, 15-6 MSC), seeing Dawson Bailey and Peyton Law joining forces for a set of layups. Brandon Thomas started his senior night with an offensive board and a put-back to help keep the visiting FireHawks off the board with a 7-0 lead at 15:56. To their credit, UTS never wavered, slowing climbing back with a layup and a set of free throws. After a steal and a score, the FHU lead evaporated to one point after a steal and a score set a 9-8 score with 11:52 remaining in the first half. While the Lions fed the pain to have Zach Baugher join Thomas with points in the paint, UT Southern stayed right with the hosting Lions by tallying four 3-pointers in the waning moments of the half. Baugher's triple with 7:42 left before intermission gave the Lions a 24-16 lead, but the FireHawks answered with back-to-back shots from beyond the arc. With 38 ticks left in the half, a layup from UTS evened the score at 28-28 to make FHU and UTS settle affairs in the final 10 minutes.

Tennessee Southern (16-10, 12-9 MSC) would strike first in the second half, hitting a pair of free throws. With a 3-pointer tallied at 16:38, the FireHawks claimed their largest lead of the night at a 40-35 spread. JJ Wheat and Geraldo Lane teamed up to erase that deficit and retake a lead at 11:16. For the next 10 possessions, the Lions and FireHawks would trade leads and ties before Hunter Scurlock enjoyed his senior day celebration by stealing a possession from UTS and slamming it home to give the Lions a four-point lead at 7:19. Unfazed, UTS connected for five unanswered points to retake the lead at 58-57 with 4:34 left in the contest. That lead proved to be their final one with the Lions seeing themselves in the double bonus. FHU hit seven free throws, punctuated by a pair of Baugher 3-pointers to see the Lions stun the FireHawks with a 19-5 run across the final four minutes to run away with the 76-63 victory.

One of the top shooting teams in the country, the Lions continued that trend with a 58% night from the floor, making 29 of their 50 attempts.

JJ Wheat's 15-point outpouring led the FHU offense, followed by Zach Baugher going 4-7 from long range to help the senior to 14 points. Brandon Thomas chipped in with 12 points, going 5-6 from the field. 

Up Next

The Lions will conclude their 2022-23 regular season in Lebanon, Tennessee, where they will match up with the Cumberland (Tenn.) University Phoenix. Tipoff from the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena is set for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18.