Bisons drain 18 three-pointers to close out 2020 in style

Tuesday, December 29

Allen Arena

7:00 PM

Lipscomb University

5-5

Freed-Hardeman

7-2

Team	1	2	F
Freed-Hardeman	37	35	72
Lipscomb	44	49	93

Bisons drain 18 three-pointers to close out 2020 in style

12/30/2020 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Kirk Downs

NASHVILLE – Lipscomb had the hot-hand shooting Tuesday night, knocking down 18 three-pointers to cruise to a 93-72 victory against Freed-Hardeman at Allen Arena in the team's final game of 2020.

It was the 3^rd-most threes the Bisons have ever hit in a game in the program's NCAA era. The record is 22 against Fisk on Jan. 5, 2017.

KJ Johnson led a quintet of double-digit scorers with a career high-tying 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from long distance.

.@lightbright_3 locking in for 2021 ??#HornsUp | #OnTheMove pic.twitter.com/BeJz9Q10jl
— LipscombMBB (@LipscombMBB) December 30, 2020

HOW IT HAPPENED
Lipscomb (5-5) shot a season high 60 percent from the floor for the game while posting a 58.1-percent clip beyond the arc.

Another area the Bisons excelled in was making the extra pass for an open shot. On the night, the Purple and Gold assisted on 22 of its 36 baskets. It was the third time this season Lipscomb eclipsed 20 assists.

After Freed-Hardeman (7-1) hit a three to take an early 3-2 lead just over a minute into the game, Carson Cary responded with a triple of his own to put Lipscomb in front, where the Bisons stayed the rest of the game.

.@carsonwcary and @Flacko_rome lead @LipscombMBB with the three-point attack. Catch the Bisons on ESPN+https://t.co/iCVJrQgREj pic.twitter.com/V8DwO5ax4B
— #ASUNMBB ?? (@ASUN_MBB) December 30, 2020

Early on it was a Johnson and Romeao Ferguson show as the duo scored 15 of the team's first 18 points.

Grab your ??! @Flacko_rome and @Light_bright_3 putting on a show early! ??#HornsUp pic.twitter.com/zi60KTyOfz
— LipscombMBB (@LipscombMBB) December 30, 2020

The Bisons rattled in eight 3-pointers and shot 56.7 percent from the field in the first half to take a 44-37 lead into the break. Johnson and Ferguson each scored 13 in the first 20 minutes and they combined to go a perfect 4-for-4 from deep.

HE. CANT. MISS. @Flacko_rome now 3-for-3 from deep????????#HornsUp | #OnTheMove pic.twitter.com/vXSILqz1za
— LipscombMBB (@LipscombMBB) December 30, 2020

Lipscomb didn't let up in the second half, outscoring the Lions 49-35. It was the second consecutive game the Bisons eclipsed 40 points in each half after not doing so through the first eight games of the season.

The second half was much like the first with Johnson and Ferguson attacking early and often. This time the tandem scored 15 of the first 20 points to help extend the lead to 19 at the 14:24 mark. Cary added the other five points on a triple from the corner and another highlight-reel dunk on a breakaway.

.@Light_bright_3 continues to light it up from outside and @carsonwcary slams one home....again. Bisons rolling. ??#HornsUp pic.twitter.com/XPKs4mMcoP
— LipscombMBB (@LipscombMBB) December 30, 2020

After missing the previous two games, Miles Miller returned to get in on the action. The sophomore guard scored five quick points, including an NBA-range three, to spark an 11-0 Lipscomb run and push the lead to 73-45 with just under 11 minutes to play.

The Bisons continued firing from long range as Jake Wolfe, Tanner Shulman and Tommy Murr each added triples down the stretch to seal the team's third-straight victory.

Count 'em....that's 1?7? threes after @MurrTommy buries one! #HornsUp pic.twitter.com/iVTMJ5UD4A
— LipscombMBB (@LipscombMBB) December 30, 2020

Nine different players scored in the second half, led by Johnson's 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting in only seven minutes, and Lipscomb connected on 63.3 percent of its shots (19-of-30). The Bisons buried 10 of its 16 attempts from beyond the arc for a 62.5 percent clip.

FROM THE BENCH

Hear from @coachacuff and @Light_bright_3 postgame on tonight's win. #HornsUp https://t.co/lBga405cOu
— LipscombMBB (@LipscombMBB) December 30, 2020

HERD NOTES

Ferguson finished with 16 points and went a perfect 4-for-4 from long range. He also swiped a team-high two steals in 22 minutes.
Cary added 14 points in just 19 minutes and matched Ferguson with a team-high four three-pointers. He made his second straight start Tuesday.
Murr and Miller each recorded 10 points and combined to hit four triples.
Wolfe totaled eight points and three rebounds in his return.
Ahsan Asadullah scored just two points on 1-of-2 shooting, but he grabbed a team high nine rebounds and dished a team best five assists.
Parker Hazen registered seven rebounds and four assists in 11 minutes.
In total, 11 different Bisons etched their names in the scoring column.
Johnson's 10 made field goals were a career high and his three triples matched a career best.
The Bisons have scored 90+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since Feb. 2-6, 2019. They reached 90 points just twice all of last season.
Lipscomb won the rebounding battle, 38-23, and scored 15 points off eight FHU turnovers.

UP NEXT
Lipscomb not only jumps into a new year on Friday, it will also jump into ASUN Conference action when reigning champ Liberty comes to town. The league's preseason top two teams will battle on back-to-back days.

On Friday, Jan. 1 they will tip at 2 p.m. before starting at 4 p.m. Saturday. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ from Allen Arena.