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Freed-Hardeman men’s basketball wins NAIA National Championship
The FHU Lions overcame a six-point deficit in the final minute to defeat Langston University 71-67.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Despite trailing by six points with one minute remaining in the 2024 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship, the Freed-Hardeman University Lions forced a flurry of turnovers and scored the final 10 points of the game to take the Big Red Banner and the championship trophy home to Henderson, Tenn.
They defeated the Langston University Lions of Oklahoma 71-67 for the championship victory.
Utilizing phrases such as “elite is earned,” “today is the day” and “committed to the culture,” head coach Drew Stutts said his team lived up to his expectations: “They have just showed so much resilience and so much toughness tonight. The last thing we talked about before we went out of the locker room was ‘the tougher team wins’ and I think we have proven that throughout the course of this year.”
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The championship game lived up to the name, with neither team leading by more than two possessions.
FHU’s Ryley McClaran scored the game’s first points with a 3-pointer at 17:57 before Peyton Law and Hunter Scurlock teamed up to score six unanswered points.
FHU’s Ryley McClaran scored the game’s first points with a 3-pointer
Langston (35-2) would begin to hit late jumpers before ending the first half on a 8-1 run to end the first half of the championship game leading 40-31.
Langston stormed out of the locker room to enter the second half with four unanswered points and jump out to their largest lead of the game at 46-33.
Quan Lax took advantage of a Langston turnover with a fast break layup to spark a 6-0 run for FHU. Lax bucketed a jumper before Law’s layup at 10:16 pulled FHU within three points.
At 9:09, Geraldo Lane drove into the paint on a fast break where he scored the bucket and then drew a foul. J.J. Wheat’s jumper at 8:04 completed the comeback and knotted the game 50-50 with 8:04 remaining in regulation.
J.J. Wheat’s jumper at 8:04 completed the comeback and knotted the game 50-50 with 8:04 remaining in regulation.
Of the next 19 points, 15 came from the teams trading trips to the free-throw line until Langston bucketed a 3-pointer with 3:42 remaining to begin a seven-point run that put LU on top 66-60 with 1:55 left.
Trailing by six points with one minute in regulation, Lax coolly sank a set of free throws before Geraldo Lane stole the ball from Langston and was fouled while making a layup.
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Down by one point with 40 ticks on the clock, Peyton Law flew through the air to disrupt a deep inbound pass, giving it to Wheat, who was then fouled with the chance to tie or potentially take a lead.
Wheat made the first free throw to knot the game before hitting the second to give FHU a 68-67 lead with 35 seconds. An attempt to tie the game fell short, and after a foul on the rebound attempt, Law’s free throw completed the Lion’s quest for the national title with the 71-67 championship win.
Down by one point with 40 ticks on the clock, Peyton Law flew through the air to disrupt a deep inbound pass.
Derek Wiesemann, an FHU alumnus from 2011 and Kansas City native, makes as many trips as possible to watch the Lions in his hometown.
“This means so much to the school,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming as there have been some really good teams in the past. This makes a lot of people proud — not just the ones who have worn the jersey but for everybody.”
“We are extremely proud,” beamed Freed-Hardeman University president David R. Shannon. “Any team that wins the national championship there has to be a lot of grit, a lot of skill, and great coaching. And we get to see that at Freed-Hardeman.”
“This is a huge accomplishment for Coach Stutts and the team and a great day for Freed-Hardeman athletics and the Freed-Hardeman family,” said FHU athletic director Jonathan Estes. “The mission is to utilize your God-given abilities to His glory, and I think these guys did that.”
The FHU Lions pose for a victory photo after winning the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship.
Making the All-Tournament team were FHU starts Quan Lax, Hunter Scurlock and JJ Wheat. Wheat was honored with the Charles Stevenson Hustle Award while Hunter Scurlock ended his illustrious FHU career being named as the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
“It’s a good way to end and it’s been worth every bit of the ride,” said Scurlock after thinking over his five-year career.
Read the full story on the FHU Lions website.
DUSTIN SEMORE is the sports information director for Freed-Hardeman University.
