Lions dominate the glass, roll to semifinals with win

February 25, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The No. 21 Freed-Hardeman University Lions out-rebounded the Campbellsville (Ky.) University Tigers by 18 boards in the Mid-South Conference Tournament Quarterfinals on the way to an 86-68 win.

After drawing the tournament's No. 2 seed, the Lions (21-8, 16-6 MSC) had not hit the hardwood since a regular-season finale victory on February 18. It did not take long for the FHU pace to strike after Geraldo Lane went coast-to-coast after a missed Tiger shot to record the first points of the tournament for the Lions. The No. 10 seed Campbellsville Tigers; however, answered with seven unanswered points to jump to a five-point advantage. Freed-Hardeman did a good job on both levels, trading layups from Geraldo Lane and Peyton Law with 3-pointers from Ryley McClaran and Zach Baugher. The Lions were lethal in the last five minutes of the opening half, going 9-11 from the floor to end the half with a 48-36 lead.

Campbellsville (12-18, 6-16 MSC) was stunned exiting the locker room, using a timeout before the first minute of the second frame elapsed after Hunter Scurlock bucketed back-to-back layups, converting an and-one opportunity to give FHU a 17-point advantage. While JJ Wheat's 3-pointer was chased by JaQuan Lax's layup, the FHU defense stiffened, only allowing one CU field goal in the first eight minutes of the second half. The Lions continued to hit big shots to stifle any chance of a comeback, with Lax's 3-point jumper at 3:11 giving the Lions their largest lead of the quarterfinal at 22 before the horn sounded on an 86-68 victory.

Despite committing 16 turnovers to the Tigers' six, it was the Lions' work at rebounding that kept providing FHU with possessions. FHU grabbed 38 rebounds to CU's 20. The Lions again were dangerous from the floor, converting 57% (32-56) of their shots, while Campbellsville's 24-63 night from the field calculated a 38% total.

JJ Wheat went 9-12 from the field to tally a game-high 24 points, with the MSC Defensive Player of the Year, Hunter Scurlock, proving his shooting talents, too by bucketing 12. Brandon Thomas chipped in with 12 points, and JaQuan Lax ended the night with 10. Ryley McClaran was welcomed back to the lineup after a five-game absence, dishing out a team-high five assists.

Up Next

Advancing to the Mid-South semifinals, the Lions will compete against the No. 24 Thomas More (Ky.) University Saints. Holding the No. 3 seed of the tournament, the Saints defeated the No. 11 seed Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College Blue Raiders in the final quarterfinal match. FHU and TMU will meet Sunday, February 26, at 7:30 p.m.