MAYFIELD, Ky. - In his four years as a member of the Mid-Continent University men's basketball team, Antonio Davis has never had a night like he had on Thursday against Freed-Hardeman University. Unfortunately for Mid-Continent, some missed free throws and a lack of perimiter defense contributed to another heartbreaking defeat for the Cougars.

Davis tallied 31 points on 10-of-18 shooting - both career bests for the senior from Madisonville, Ky. - but Mid-Continent (17-13) was unable to make crucial free throws or slow the perimeter attack of Freed-Hardeman (13-18), as the Lions took the win in the quarterfinals of the final TranSouth Athletic Conference tournament, 88-77.

Freed-Hardeman scored the first six points of the game, and after Mid-Continent bounced back with a 9-0 run to take the lead 9-6, the Lions scored nine straight of their own to re-estaclish the six point margin. Through the middle stages of the first half, Mid-Continent stayed within striking distance, but with 6:52 to play in the half, Freed-Hardeman's Ben Meis scored to ignite another 9-0 blitz that saw the Lions' lead jump all the way to 14-points at 33-19. The teams traded baskets on the next two possessions, but over the final 3:31 of the half, Mid-Continent siezed the momentum. The Cougars finished the half on a 13-0 run that saw them trim the Lions's halftime advantage to a single point at 35-34. Gavin Scott nailed a 3-pointer on the Cougars first possession of the second stanza to give Mid-Continent the lead back, but Freed-Hardeman immediately surged to a 6-point edge, 45-39. By the 14 minute mark, the Lions were up 10 and Mid-Continent did not get closer than five points the rest of the night. Every time the Cougars positioned themselves to make a run, the Lions had an answer, and at the final horn, Freed-Hardeman took the win 88-77.

Davis' 31 point effort was far and away the highest individual total in the game, as no one else scored as many as 20. Scott added 15 for Mid-Continent, and Larry Thompkins II tallied 10. Mid-Continent shot the ball reasonably well from the floor, making 27-of-66 (40.9%) shots, including 8-of-18 (44.4%) 3-pointers, but at the foul line, the Cougars struggled, conerting only 15-of-24 (62.5%) tries.

The loss means that the Cougars now must shift their attention to the Mid-East Regional Tournament for the National Christian College Athletic Association next Thursday through Saturday. The Tournament will be held on Mar. 7-9 at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Brackets have yet to be drawn up, so game time and opponent are still to be determined.