CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Though the Freed-Hardeman Lions didn't win tonight, they proved they can play with anyone in the NAIA. The NAIA No. 4 Lee (Tenn.) University Flames dodged another bullet from the Freed-Hardeman revolver, this time escaping with a 74-71 overtime win.
Tonight marked the second time in three days that the Lions played the Flames, and both times FHU took one of the NAIA's top teams down to the wire. On Saturday, the game was tied at 67-67 with 2:00 to play before Lee pulled away in the end.
Elmar Kuli-Zade hit a three-pointer with :16 left in overtime to put the Flames ahead 72-71, and FHU missed on three opportunities before Harold Griffin rebounded with :01 left. After being fouled, he would make a pair of free throws to up Lee's final margin of victory to three points.
Though the Lions' final possession in overtime didn't go the way they wanted, their final possession in regular certainly did.
After Kuli-Zade made two free throws with :07 left to give Lee a 62-59 lead, the Flames wisely fouled Shun Trevillian before FHU could get off a shot, meaning the Lions would have to make the first free throw, miss the second, get the rebound, and score again with just :04 on the clock.
And that's exactly what Freed-Hardeman did.
Trevillian, after making the front end of the bonus, intentionally missed his second and the rebound was grabbed by Zack Frey. Frey was fouled with :01 left, and the junior calmly made both of his free throws to send the game into overtime.
Neither team would lead by more than three points in the extra period. FHU led 68-65 with 2:52 after a Kristoffer Smith basket. The Lions went up 71-69 with :22 left on a Trevillian lay-up, setting the stage for Kuli-Zade's big three-pointer.
Freed-Hardeman again shot the ball extremely well from the perimeter, connecting on 9-of-17 from three-point range including 4-of-5 from Jesse Moulton. Moulton finished the game with 14 points as one of four Lions in double figures. Smith led the team with 15 points, while Frey and Tyler Jennings added 12 and 10 respectively.
The Lions return to action on Friday, Nov. 21, as they play Tougaloo (Miss.) College in Jackson, Tenn., at the Lambuth Classic.
