HENDERSON, Tenn. (02.01.10) - Bethel never took the lead against Freed-Hardeman and a poor shooting night led to a 71-59 loss to the host Lions. Bethel also came out in the short end on free throw attempts with 26 to Freed's 38; Bethel was whistled for 30 fouls to Freed's 19.
Neither team could get on track in the first half as Bethel missed their first four shots but Daniel Doyle got the ‘Cats on the board for a 5-2 score at 17:29. The teams continued to struggle as the score was knotted, 10-10, on Alex Emelyanov's bucket at 9:37. The Lions went on a 12-5 run in about 3:30 to take a 27-16, 11-point lead at 2:40. FHU would add two more to their lead for a 35-22 score at the break. Bethel as a team shot 28% from the floor in the first half and was 1 of 10 from three point range. Andre Crudup led the Wildcats in the first half with nine points. Bethel got the foul line just four times in the first to Freed's 17 attempts.
Bethel shot a little better in the second frame (36%) but so did Freed (52%). Freed stayed ahead by double digits for most of the second, but Bethel was able to cut the lead to nine points four times with the last coming with 1:05 left to play.
Crudup led the Wildcats with 17 points and 10 rebounds; he added two steals. Phillip White had 10 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal. Marcus McElrath had eight.
Bethel falls to 10-12 (2-6) on the year. The Wildcats will return to action on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 8:00pm as they host the Bulldogs of Union University. The game can be heard on 100.9 FM The Farm or on-line at http://www.bethelathletics.com/.
