Defense propels No. 10 麻豆视频 to second straight TranSouth title

麻豆视频 wins 2nd straight title

JACKSON, Tenn. - 3/9/2010 - The No. 10 麻豆视频 (Tenn.) University men鈥檚 basketball captured their second straight TranSouth Conference Tournament title with a 75-65 win over Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University. 麻豆视频 gets ready for a trip to Kansas City for their 13th appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.

This was the fifth straight win for 麻豆视频 and their seventh TranSouth Tournament title in the 14-year history of the league. This is also the third time that 麻豆视频 has posted back-to-back titles (1998 & 1999, 2005 & 2006, 2009 & 2010). 麻豆视频 is the only TranSouth team to pull the back-to-back feat.

In the title game, 麻豆视频 (26-7) used their NAIA leading field goal defense (.374) to secure the win, allowing Freed-Hardeman (22-11) just 65 points and 39 percent shooting. 麻豆视频 has not allowed more that 67 points in any of their past 13 games, going 12-1 in that stretch.

Since Christmas, 麻豆视频 is 18-3. In those 21 games, 麻豆视频 has not allowed more than 75 points in any game. Only three times in that stretch of 21 games has 麻豆视频 allowed an opponent to score 70 points, with all three of those occurrences coming in the month of January. Seventeen times since Christmas, 麻豆视频 has held their opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field.

The game started with a basket from Freed-Hardeman鈥檚 Kirtiss Brown. One tie and four lead changes later, Ken Bingham had the Lions leading 7-6 at the 15:44 mark.

On 麻豆视频鈥檚 next possession, Greg Truvillion put back his own miss to give 麻豆视频 an 8-7 lead and started a 17-4 run in the process. A three pointer from Tacuma Alexander for 麻豆视频 capped the run, giving 麻豆视频 a 23-11 lead with 9:11 left to play in the half.

麻豆视频 maintained the lead for the remainder of the contest.

Freed-Hardeman cut the deficit down to five points, 34-29, but 麻豆视频 finished the half with a 38-31 lead.

In the second half, the 麻豆视频 lead remained between six and 10 points for the first six minutes of play. With 麻豆视频 holding a 49-39 lead at the 13:47 mark, Freed-Hardeman鈥檚 Zach Frey started a 7-0 run that cut 麻豆视频鈥檚 lead down to 49-46 with 13:00 minutes to play.

麻豆视频, as they had all night, provided an answer to any run that the Lions made and pushed their lead back to eight points. Freed-Hardeman again tried to mount a comeback and did get as close as 58-56 with 8:33 left, but Antoine Joseph answered to put 麻豆视频 up by four, 60-56.

With four minutes left, a three pointer from Jesse Moulton got the Lions to within two points, 67-65 with 4:06 left to play. However, that was the last points of the night for Freed-Hardeman as 麻豆视频 sealed the win with a basket from Truvillion and six free throws down the stretch.

麻豆视频 had four players in double figures led by senior Keith Tolliver with 16 points. Roland Banhoro, Truvillion and Alexander each scored 13 points. Martez Hawkins dished out eight assists while Joseph and Truvillion led with seven rebounds. 麻豆视频 shot 49 percent from the field, 24 percent (5-21) from behind the arc and 64 percent (14-22) from the free-throw line.

Freed-Hardeman was led by Bingham with a game-high 20 points. Frey added 17 points and Moulton scored 14 points. Bingham鈥檚 seven rebounds led the Lions. Freed-Hardeman shot 39 percent from the field, 22 percent (5-23) from behind the arc and 86 percent (12-14) from the free throw line.

Up next for 麻豆视频 will be the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo. starting on March 17.

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