Second-seeded Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) captured the 2022-23 Mid-South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament title with a 69-68 victory over top-seeded Georgetown at Bowling Green Arena.
The Lions (23-8) capture their first tournament title.
Following the conclusion of the game, Freed-Hardeman's JaQuan Lax (6'1''-PG) was named the H&W Sports Player of the Game. Lax scored 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting while connecting on 6-of-9 shots from beyond the arc.
State Farm Insurance of Bowling Green, D C Clement, agent, is sponsoring the 2023 Mid-South Conference Outstanding Player of the Tournament Award. Lax averaged 18.7 points per game in the tournament.
Freed-Hardeman scored first on a Lax three. Georgetown then went on a 19-0 run that spanned almost five minutes of game action. The Lions then scored five quick points to make it 19-8 with 12:57 to play in the first half. Following a Lion layup that made it 27-14, the Tigers went on an 8-2 run to increase their lead to 35-16 with under four minutes remaining in the half. The two teams traded points for the remainder of the half as Georgetown led 40-24 after the first 20 minutes.
Back-to-back threes by Lax to start the second half made it a 42-30 game. Trailing 52-36, Freed-Hardeman went on a 9-2 run to cut the deficit back single digits at 54-45 with 10:26 to play. Georgetown led 58-49 before the Lions went on a 7-2 run to make 60-56 with just over five minutes remaining. Jake Ohmer (6'1''-G) put the Tigers up by seven with a three with 5:18 to play. Once again the Lions answered back going on an 8-0 run to lead 64-63 with 2:35 left.
Ohmer then connected on a pair of free throws that gave the Tigers a 65-64 lead with 2:16 remaining. Freed-Hardeman then went on a 5-0 run to take a 69-65 lead with just 33 seconds remaining. Drew Lamont hit a three that made it 69-68 with 26 seconds left. A missed Freed-Hardeman free throw gave Georgetown the ball with 10 seconds left. The Tigers first attempt was blocked out of bounds with one second left. Freed-Hardeman's defense prevailed as the Tigers were unable to get a shot off in the final second as the Lions secured the 69-68 victory.
With the victory the Lions earn one of the conference's automatic bids into the NAIA National Tournament. Georgetown had already earned the conference's other bid by winning the MSC regular season championship.

Courtesy of mid-southconference.org

All-Tournament MVP: JaQuan Lax (6'1''-PG) of FHU
Player of the Year: Reid Jolly (6'5''-G/F) of Thomas More
Defensive Player of the Year: Hunter Scurlock (6'7''-F) of FHU
Freshman of the Year: Tae Dozier (6'5''-G) of Georgetown, KY
Coach of the Year: Chris Briggs of Georgetown, KY

All-MSC First Team 2023

Brooks-Harris

Fitzgerald

Hancock

Hinson

Hudson

Jolly

First Team
Cam Brooks-Harris (6'7''-F) of Georgetown, KY
Steven Fitzgerald (6'4''-G) of Cumberlands
Kavion Hancock (5'11''-PG) of UT Southern
Jahi Hinson (6'4''-G) of Cumberlands
Adarion Hudson (6'0''-PG) of UT Southern
Reid Jolly (6'5''-G/F) of Thomas More
Latavious Mitchell (6'8''-F) of Shawnee St.
Jake Ohmer (6'1''-G) of Georgetown, KY
Teddy Parham Jr. (6'2''-G) of Pikeville
Korbin Spencer (6'2''-G) of Pikeville
Jordan Stephens (6'3''-G) of Cumberland
Brandon Thomas (6'7''-F) of FHU

All-MSC Second Team 2023

Beavers

Brown

Davis

Dozier

Gadson

George

Second Team
Brandon Beavers (6'2''-PG) of Shawnee St.
Brady Brown (6'7''-G) of UT Southern
: Cali Davis of Wilberforce
Tae Dozier (6'5''-G) of Georgetown, KY
Querrion Gadson (6'1''-G) of Bethel, TN
Casey George (6'0''-G) of Thomas More
Jacob Jones (5'10''-PG) of Thomas More
Kyran Jones (6'5''-F) of Georgetown, KY
Elijah Jordan (6'2''-G-1999) of Lindsey Wilson
Ryley McClaran (6'4''-G) of FHU
Noah Pack (6'8''-C) of Thomas More
Hunter Scurlock (6'7''-F) of FHU

All-MSC Honorable Mention 2023

De Sousa

Lax

Muhammad

Stephens

Wallace

Wales

Honorable Mention
Malachi De Sousa (6'6''-F) of Campbellsville
JaQuan Lax (6'1''-PG) of FHU
Malik Muhammad (6'9''-C) of Campbellsville
Isaac Stephens (6'7''-F) of Cumberland
Jace Wallace (6'6''-F) of Campbellsville
Jaquay Wales (5'10''-PG) of Georgetown, KY