For the second time in the last three seasons, the Red Banner belongs to the Freed-Hardeman University Lions. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) won the 88th annual NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship with a 76-71 victory over Langston (Okla.) Tuesday night at Municipal Auditorium, winning a rematch of the 2024 title game, which Fred-Hardeman won by a score of 71-67. The Lions (35-1) finish their championship season on a 32-game winning streak, having not lost since an 85-79 setback at the hands of Life (Ga.) in Freed-Hardeman's fourth game of the season. Their second national title comes in their 12th tournament appearance, but it definitely didn't come easy. The game featured 16 lead changes and eight ties, and neither team led by more than four points until there were seven minutes to go in the contest. The first half was close throughout, with nine lead changes and four ties. Neither team led by more than four points as the momentum shifted back and forth between the two teams. Freed-Hardeman closed the half with a 5-2 burst that sent them into the locker room with a 33-30 halftime lead despite going just 9-for-25 from the field (36 percent), including 3-for-8 (37.5 percent) from 3-point range. Where Freed-Hardeman made up for its slow shooting start was at the free-throw line, where Freed-Hardeman went a perfect 12-for-12. Freed-Hardeman - which forced 13 Langston turnovers - was led by Phil Horton (6'6''-F), who scored 10 points. Jailen Anderson (6'2''-PG) and D.J. McIntyre added six points apiece. Langston (29-8), which outrebounded Freed-Hardeman, 17-7, in the first half, had nine different players score points in the opening 20 minutes, including four with four points or more. Leading the way for Langston was Orlando Thomas, who had six points and six rebounds. Langston went 10-for-19 from the field (52.6 percent), making 1-of-5 (20 percent) from 3-point range and nine of its 10 free throws (90 percent). The first 10 minutes of the second half were much like the first, and the score was tied at 55 with nine minutes remaining. That was when Freed-Hardeman took control with a 13-4 run over a span of 4:10 that allowed the Lions to open up a 68-59 lead with 4:50 to go. Freed-Hardeman eventually led by as many as 10 - at 71-61 after a free throw by Phil Horton with 2:38 left - but Langston made one final push to get back into the game. Langston outscored Freed-Hardeman 10-3 over the next 2:24 to pull to within 74-71 on a three-point play by Jaden Williams (6'4''-G) with 14.5 seconds to go, but Freed-Hardeman was able to inbound the ball successfully and after being fouled, Lane Lauderbaugh (6'6''-F) drained a pair of free throws with 7.1 seconds left to make it 76-71 and salt away the national title for the Lions. Phil Horton - who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player - led Freed-Hardeman with 18 points and six rebounds. Anderson finished with 16, and McIntyre added 14 for the Lions, who made 23 of their 47 shots (48.9 percent), including going 14-for-22 (63.6 percent) in the second half. Just as importantly, Freed-Hardeman made 23 of its 26 free throws (88.5 percent) in the game. Thomas was the high scorer for Langston with 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Antonio Lewis (6'2''-G) chipped in 10 for Langston, which finished the game 26-for-51 from the field (51 percent) overall, and 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from 3-point range. Langston outrebounded Freed-Hardeman, 31-20, in the game, but committed 16 turnovers to Freed-Hardeman's 10.
Courtesy of: naia.org