Freed-Hardeman’s late run secures 1st NAIA title

Mar 26, 2024, 11:32 PM ET

KANSAS CITY, Mo.– Quan Lax had 15 points, JJ Wheat scored 4 of his nine points in the last 35 seconds, and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) closed on a 10-0 run to beat Langston (Okla.) 71-67 on Tuesday night for the program’s very first NAIA championship.Freed-Hardeman trailed 67-61 with 54 seconds staying before its full-court defense triggered issues for Langston, which turned it over 19 times overall.Geraldo Lane made a take and converted a shot in the lane while being fouled with 42.1 seconds left. He made the totally free toss to pull Freed-Hardeman within 67-66. Langston turned it over again and Wheat was fouled before making both totally free throws to take the lead.Langston took a crack at obstructed and Wheat raced the other method for a fast-break layup to make it 70-67 at

12.4. After a timeout Langston missed a 3-pointer, Freed-Hardeman tapped it out to midcourt and the game appeared

to be over as confetti dropped onto the court. But authorities put 0.2 seconds on the clock and the celebration was postponed. Peyton Law made 1 of 2 complimentary tosses to end it.Freed-Hardeman(32-4)ended up the season on a 12-game winning streak. Langston(35-2), which was likewise looking for the program’s very first championship game,

lost for just the second time all season.Law finished with 10 points for Freed-Hardeman. Hunter Scurlock included 12. Anthony Roy led Langston with 17 points. Cortez Mosley added 14 and Toru Dean scored 10 of his 12 in the first half.Ronald Mitchell made a layup with 1:24 staying in the first half to offer Langston the first double-digit lead of the game at 40-30 following an 8-0 run. Langston led by as lots of as 13 points early in the second half.Wheat put back his own miss out on to connect it at 50-all with 8:04 staying. Seconds later, Freed-Hardeman coach Drew Stutts was required a technical nasty after Wheat was called for his 4th foul and Langston made all 4 totally free throws.