Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Cats Fall at Home to No.2 Freed-Hardeman

MCKENZIE, Tenn. — Bethel ran into a red-hot Freed-Hardeman squad Thursday night at Crisp Arena, as the No. 2 Lions handed the Wildcats an 87–62 loss in conference action.

Freed-Hardeman (20-1, 5-0) set the tone early, shooting over 50 percent in the first half and building a commanding 43–28 lead at the break. The Lions consistently attacked the paint, finishing with 54 points inside, while capitalizing on Bethel turnovers to maintain control throughout the night.

The Wildcats (16-5, 2-3) showed flashes of fight, particularly behind Chauncey Hughes III, who led Bethel with 18 points, three steals, and two assists. David Starr provided a spark off the bench with nine points and five rebounds, while Alonzo Rhodes Jr. added eight points and physical play inside.

Despite a more competitive second half, Bethel struggled to find a rhythm from beyond the arc after halftime, going scoreless from three-point range in the final 20 minutes. Freed-Hardeman's depth proved decisive, as multiple Lions reached double figures and kept steady pressure on both ends of the floor.

"We knew the challenge coming in, and credit to Freed-Hardeman — they played with great pace and physicality," said head coach Jeff Britt. "We've got to value the basketball better and be more consistent defensively, especially against a team of that caliber. This league doesn't give you much margin for error."

Bethel won the rebounding battle 34–33 but was undone by 21 turnovers and difficulty matching the Lions' efficiency in the paint. Freed-Hardeman shot nearly 48 percent from the field and controlled the tempo from start to finish.

The Wildcats will look to regroup quickly as conference play continues, aiming to turn lessons from Thursday night into growth as they push deeper into the season. Bethel travels to Cumberlands (KY) Thursday and Georgetown Saturday.