Kansas City, Mo. - Defending national champion Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) (29-5) heads to the Quarterfinals over Life University (Ga.) (27-7) with a final score of 85-71. Freed-Hardeman's explosive first half set the Lions up for the win despite the second-half push from the Running Eagles.

Freed-Hardeman came out strong, establishing a commanding lead by halftime, up 54-32. This early advantage proved insurmountable despite Life's efforts to close the gap in the second half. Life managed to outscore Freed-Hardeman 39-31 in the latter half, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.

Leading the charge for the Lions was Peyton Law, who delivered an outstanding performance with 23 points, shooting an impressive 10-for-13 from the field. Geraldo Lane also made significant contributions, scoring 13 points and providing five assists, while Makai Vassell added 10 points and six rebounds.

Chaze Harris for the Running Eagles stood out with a strong performance, scoring 14 points and dishing out 10 assists. Srdjan Popovich was the top scorer for Life, contributing 16 points, including four 3-pointers. However, Life's 44.6 percent shooting was overshadowed by Freed-Hardeman's 58.2 percent from the field.

Freed-Hardeman's defense was robust, limiting Life's opportunities and forcing 16 turnovers. The team also dominated the boards, securing 34 rebounds compared to Life's 23. 

The Lions will be back in action as they look to become just the second team to repeat as national champions since the 2006 and 2007 championships. Their opponent will be the winner of the proceeding game between Southern Oregon and Keiser (Fla.), with tipoff scheduled for 5 p.m., Saturday, March 22, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.