HENDERSON, Tenn. – For the second time in three years, the IU Southeast men's basketball team is headed to Henderson, Tennessee to take on Freed-Hardeman in the NAIA National Tournament.
 
In the 2022-2023 season, IU Southeast was the 12 seed and Freed-Hardeman was the 5 seed. This time around, Freed-Hardeman is a 1 seed and IU Southeast is slotted as a 16 seed.
 
Two years ago, Freed-Hardeman won 65-57 at the Brewer Sports Center.
 
This is the second NAIA Tournament appearance in three years for IU Southeast. They clinched an NAIA Tournament bid by reaching the RSC Tournament Championship.
 
This is the fourth straight NAIA Tournament appearance for Freed-Hardeman. The Lions are the defending NAIA National Tournament Champions.
 
IU Southeast is led by Lane Lauderbaugh, who is coming off his best season as a Grenadier. Lauderbaugh was named to the RSC All-Conference First Team this season. The junior is averaging 20.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He is shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 38.4 from three, and 79.7 percent from the free throw line.
 
Sophomore Trent Hinkle has stepped up as the team's point guard this season after injuries plagued his true freshman season. Hinkle is averaging 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in a starting role. He leads the team with a free throw percentage of 85.6.
 
Freed-Hardeman is a well-balanced team. The Lions have four players averaging 10 or more points, and a fifth is averaging 9.8 points per game.
 
Peyton Law and Geraldo Lane were named to the MSC All-Conference First Team. Law, a junior, led the team with 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Lane, a senior, averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
 
Both teams have players who appeared in the 2023 meeting. For IU Southeast, Lane Lauderbaugh and Caleb Brown appeared. Lauderbaugh had seven points and three rebounds, and Caleb had three points.
 
For Freed-Hardeman, Peyton Law, Geraldo Lane, and Phil Horton all played. Law had nine points and six rebounds. Lane had nine points and five rebounds, and Horton added eight points.
 
The game will be streamed here. To view the live stats, click here.