COLUMBIA, Ky. – Fresh off the program's biggest win in six years, the Lindsey Wilson men's basketball team is back at Biggers Sports Center this week to host Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) and Bethel (Tenn.) in Mid-South Conference action.

The Blue Raiders last played on Thursday, January 11 at Georgetown (Ky.) where they knocked off the then-third-ranked Tigers 91-87. This Thursday, January 18, another top-ten opponent emerges to be challenged.

Freed-Hardeman climbed four spots to No. 7 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll released on Wednesday. The Lions have won nine consecutive games, including their league openers against Cumberland (Tenn.) and Bethel last week where they averaged 99.5 points and outscored their two match-ups by an average of 38.0 points.

The defending conference tournament champions are led by a quartet of double-digit scorers. JJ Wheat is at the front of that pack with a mark of 14.1 points per outing, while Geraldo Lane is chipping in 13.3 points a night behind a 71.2 percent showing from the floor.

As a team, Freed-Hardeman boasts the Mid-South's number one defense in points allowed and the top offense for field goal percentage. The Lions also excel with the league's second-highest block and steal averages.

Lindsey Wilson is 10-10 all-time against Freed-Hardeman but have lost the last five dating back to 2020. The Blue Raiders last defeated the Lions on November 24, 2012, in Columbia.

Bethel was dealt a rough start to its conference schedule last week after falling to Freed-Hardeman 100-54. The Wildcats had won five in-a-row before that loss and now sit at 11-6 entering the week.

Behind the likes of Brennon Marsh and Justin Evans, Bethel actively leads the Mid-South on the defensive glass and ranks second in total rebounding. Evan and March are each averaging over five rebounds a game, with the latter of the two corralling the third-most in the league.

The Wildcats trail the all-time with Lindsey Wilson 9-to-5 despite winning three of the last four meetings.

The Blue Raiders, though, are riding a wave of momentum off their win over Georgetown. In fact, Lindsey Wilson has won 8 of its last 10 games since starting the season 1-4.

A key to the recent success has been the all-around contributions in the lineup that has resulted in three different players earning Mid-South Player of the Week status in the last four weeks.

Kenyata Carbon and Johrdon Mumford are the two most recent weekly honorees. Since returning from an injury, Mumford is posting 15.3 points per game, shooting 70.0 percent from the field, and has converted on 15-of-16 free throw attempts. He is also averaging 6.0 rebounds. Meanwhile, Carbon has notched back-to-back 20-point performances and ranks inside the top-10 of the conference for scoring, free throws, rebounding and assists.

This week's slate begins at 5:30 p.m. CST on Thursday when Lindsey Wilson welcomes Freed-Hardeman, then continues at 3 p.m. CST on Saturday against Bethel.

Both games can be seen at Biggers Sports Center or on the Lindsey Wilson Sports Network.