Mustangs Drop Hard Fought Contest to #3 Freed-Hardeman
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freed-Hardeman (TN) (14-1) | 40 | 49 | 89 |
|
Central Baptist (AR) (11-3) | 40 | 44 | 84 |
Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director
Conway, Ark. – Playing for the final time in the 2024 calendar year, #13 Central Baptist College men's basketball hosted the #3 Lions of Freed-Hardeman at A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse. #13 CBC (11-3) hung with #3 FHU (14-1), the reigning NAIA Champions, for a half before falling 89-84.
Sage Borbon had another impressive game, scoring 26 points, giving him 69 in two games against the Lions. Wade Williams also chipped in with 19 and Gabe Johnson added 13. The Mustangs couldn't hang with the Lions on points in the paint, getting outscored 52-34 in that area while also getting outscored 38-10 by bench players.
GAME FLOW
FHU scored the first four points of the game before the Mustangs tied the score at four-all. The score would remain tied or in favor of the Lions until the 12:32 mark of the first half when Borbon made a pair of free throws to put CBC up 16-14. FHU followed with another run to go back in front before Brian Alexander tied the score at 18 with a jumper. FHU followed with a 7-0 run and led until the 1:18 mark in the first half when Johnson hit a three to put CBC up 40-38. A layup with 50 seconds left tied the score at 40 and the teams went into the break knotted up.
FHU opened the second half with a three and Williams answered with a two to make it 43-42 but CBC would tie the game at 49 with 16:29 left to play. Following a basket by the Lions, Borbon hit a three to put the Mustangs back in front, 52-51, before the Lions retook the lead with a layup with 15:01 left. The teams would be tied again at 57 with 11:47 to play following an old fashioned three-point play by Williams. FHU put the game away after that, going on an 11-0 run over the next 2:06 to lead 68-57 and CBC was unable to get closer than three the rest of the game.
UP NEXT
The Mustangs have three weeks off before they open the 2025 calendar year with an American Midwest Conference game against the Crowley's Ridge Pioneers. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
