Despite holding a single-point halftime lead, the No. 3 Freed-Hardeman University Lions used a 46-point second half to propel them to a 79-57 victory over the Central Baptist (Ark.) College Mustangs.
Rico Sain got the game started in style for FHU (13-1) with a layup before a dunk after a steal put the Lions on the board. The guests then scored nine of the next 12 points to take a two-point lead before the schools traded leads until CBC had a five-point swing to lead 17-13 just under halfway through the opener. Blake Dean then stepped up for a triple that opened a nine-point run for the Lions that ended with a Phil Horton 3-pointer. For the remaining eight minutes of the half, neither team would lead by more than two possessions. With under one second left in the half, Rodney Henderson hit both of his free throws to turn a one-point deficit into a one-point lead the Lions carried into the break, 33-32.
Coach Drew Stutts’ halftime sermon was well-received as Horton and Sam Powell began the second frame with back-to-back 3-pointers to spark the Lions to a 12-point run while holding Central Baptist (3-8) scoreless across the first 4:42 of the second half. FHU’s defense held firm, forcing 10 second-half turnovers and scoring 16 points off of those. Lane Lauderbaugh asserted dominance in the paint, tallying back-to-back layups to push FHU to a 50-36 lead with 13:00 left in the game. Horton and Sain would later slam home a set of dunks after Mustang turnovers before Lauderbaugh’s layup with 2:39 remaining gave the Lions their largest lead at 29 points. Horton’s dunk at 1:00 was the only field goal in the last two minutes of the game with CBC scoring eight from the charity stripe in that span, but FHU’s big second half was enough to secure the 79-57 victory.
A physical game, FHU and CBC combined for 41 points from the free-throw line. FHU’s depth helped to the tune of 36 bench points while the Lions outscored the Mustangs 40-10 in the paint.
Lane Lauderbaugh led FHU with 17 points while Phil Horton was hot on his heels with 16 points. Sam Powell extended his double-figure points streak to eight games with a 13-point effort while Rico Sain tallied 10. Lauderbaugh led FHU with six of their 37 rebounds while Sain collected four of FHU’s 12 steals. Jailen Anderson recorded four helpers in the victory.
Up Next - The Lions have one more contest in the 2025 calendar year, visiting Johnson (Tenn.) University on December 17 before flipping the calendar and traveling to Faulkner (Ala.) University on January 3. FHU then begins their Mid-South Conference slate by hosting the No. 13 Georgetown Tigers on January 8 then the No. 9 Cumberlands Patriots on January 10.
Lions double up Hornets in road trip finale
Completing a seven-game road swing with a perfect record, the No. 3 Freed-Hardeman University Lions eclipsed a century for the fourth time with a 106-54 victory over the Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) University Hornets.
Freed-Hardeman (12-1) got started just two seconds into the contest when Sam Powell tallied a 3-pointer to open a 7-0 run ending with a set of Jailen Anderson free throws. Rico Sain scored five unanswered points to put the Lions ahead 18-6 before the Hornets answered with five points of their own. All momentum then shifted completely to the Lions with Lane Lauderbaugh’s triple setting off a 17-0 run where FHU held HSSU scoreless for 4:14. Another nine-point swing highlighted by five points from Blake Dean in the final 60 seconds of the half gave FHU a 51-21 haltfime lead.
Harris-Stowe State (1-7) began the second half with four points before DJ McIntyre’s layup was followed by another trey from Lauderbaugh. Phil Horton scored seven points in a 17-3 run to push FHU’s lead to 73-30 with 12:18 left in the game. The Lions’ big lead stayed intact until the 52-point victory was finalized with a 106-54 score.
The Lions forced 34 Hornet turnovers, converting those to 50 points. FHU’s bench outscored the Hornets’ total with 58 points.
Freed-Hardeman had an astounding seven players end with double figures, led by the duo of Lane Lauderbaugh and Rico Sain each bucketing 16 points. Phil Horton collected 15 points while Blake Dean and Sam Powell each had 13. Rodney Henderson tallied 11 points with Jamarcus Powell finishing with 10. Lauderbaugh led at the glass with eight rebounds, while McIntyre and Sain shared the team-high of four steals each. Jailen Anderson was the top helper, dishing out seven assists.
