Story about last nights game

No. 20 Lions pull away from Trevecca, 88-73

Thu, January 29, 2009 - [MEN'S BASKETBALL]

HENDERSON, Tenn. - Closing out games in the final minutes is starting to become a bit of a pattern for the Freed-Hardeman men's basketball team.

The No. 20 Lions used an 11-1 second-half run to pull away from the Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) Trojans on Thursday night in the Sports Center, turning what was a close game with six minutes left into an 88-73 victory.

The win keeps the Lions (16-6, 8-1) in a first-place tie in the TranSouth Conference with Cumberland (Tenn.), which pays a visit to Freed-Hardeman on Saturday. Cumberland handed FHU its only conference loss thus far this season.

In the first meeting between Freed-Hardeman and Trevecca, the Lions shot very well (14-of-30) from behind the arc. The first half of tonight's game was an entirely different story as the Lions made just 2-of-13 attempts from 3-point range.

But FHU still took a 36-33 lead into the locker room thanks in large part to the largest player on the team: 6-foot-9 senior Tyler Jennings. Jennings had 10 points and seven rebounds - five offensive - in the half while the team's leading scorer, Zack Frey, was on the bench with two fouls.

"Tyler has been a backup post man ever since he's been here and has been extremely valuable in that role," said FHU head coach Jason Shelton. "He stepped up and made some big plays tonight. He saved us in the first half."

The Trojans were able to get into transition early in the second half and eventually retook the lead for the first time since early in the game on a basket by Jeremy Dixon. One of Michael France's four 3-pointers on the night gave TNU a 45-42 lead with 16:20 to play, and the Trojans maintained a two-point edge three minutes later until a pair of Frey free throws tied the game at 49-49.

FHU then got a steal from Kristoffer Smith that turned into a basket for Shun Trevillian, and the Lions would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.

Trevecca fended off Freed-Hardeman's first attempt at a knockout blow, cutting a nine-point Lion lead down to three (69-66) with 5:30 remaining. The second attempt, however, would be one from which the Trojans would not recover. Freed-Hardeman went on an 11-1 run, kicked off by a deep 3-pointer by Trevillian, to open up an 80-67 edge with 2:48 left.

The Lion defense held Brian Oduor, who entered the game averaging a conference-best 22.3 points per game, to a season-low 10 points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field.

"We tried to make him give the ball up," Shelton said. "We missed some rotations trying to play out of that double team that got some other guys good shots. But other than putting him on the free throw line, we did a good job."

FHU was led in scoring by Frey with 19 points and eight rebounds. Four other Lions reached double figures in scoring: Jennings (14), Trevillian (13), Smith (13), and Jesse Moulton (10). Jennings also had eight rebounds and Trevillian dished out nine assists against just one turnover.

The Lions, winners of nine straight games, have a huge game with No. 7 Cumberland on Saturday for sole possession of first place in the TranSouth Conference. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM.