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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- No. 3-seed Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) upset top-seeded Cumberlands (Ky.) 86-79 tonight in the MSC Men's Basketball Tournament Finals at Studle Financial Arena.
The Lions (26-5) earn the Mid-South Conference's automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament which begins on Friday, March 14, at various sites across the NAIA.
Freed-Hardeman wins its third straight Mid-South Conference Tournament Title and extends its winning streak in the tournament to eight games.
The Lions won both the offensive and defensive battles during the game. Freed-Hardeman shots nearly 52 percent (30-of-58) from the field while limiting the Patriots (22-8) to 34.4 percent (22-of-64). Cumberlands entered the game shooting over 50 percent from the field on the season and averaging 92.1 points per game.
Peyton Law led four players in double figures on his way to earning the H&W-Dukes Player of the Game. He finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Blake Dean (12 points), Makai Vassell (11), and Jayson Nixon (10) joined Lawy in double figures.
Anthony Johnson led the Patriots with 24 points.
The first 10 minutes produced four ties and three lead changes before Freed-Hardeman used the game's first run to take the lead for good in the first 20 minutes. The Lions broke an 11-11 tie with a 6-0 spurt to take a 17-11 advantage with 8:18 left in the half.
Freed-Hardeman extended its lead to seven late in the half before leading 30-25 at the half.
Cumberlands struggled from the perimeter in the opening half, making just one of 10 3-point attempts. The Patriots stayed within striking distance thanks to making 8-of-11 free throws in the half.
Law scored a third of the Lions' points in the first 20 minutes, hitting 4-of-7 shots for 10 points.
Cumberlands climbed within two points on five occasions in the first seven minutes of the second half but could never get over the hump. The Patriots trailed 43-41 before the Lions went on a 9-0 run to take a 52-41 advantage with 10:21 left in the second half.
Freed-Hardeman maintained around a double-digit lead for much of the second half. The Patriots made one last run, closing within six points (80-74) with just over a minute remaining. But that was as close as Cumberlands would get as the Lions closed out the game and the championship.