Final Score – Lipscomb: 67, Jacksonville State: 72
Location – Jacksonville, Ala. (Pete Mathews Coliseum)
Records – Lipscomb: 13-9 (5-4, ASUN), 9-13 (2-6, ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY
Despite a late comeback attempt, Lipscomb Men's Basketball dropped a 72-67 decision at Jacksonville State Thursday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jacksonville State got out to a hot start, taking an early 5-0 lead, but
Jacob Ognacevic got a dunk for Lipscomb's first points of the night.
The Gamecocks, however, continued to stay hot and held a 12-8 lead at the first media timeout.
Lipscomb dug in a pulled within a pair, 14-12, and
Tommy Murr drove the basket to tie the game 14-14 at the 11:43 mark of the first frame.
With the game tied at 16-all, JSU went on an extended 16-0 run for a 32-16 lead with 5:38 left in the first half.
Matt Schner stopped the run and got the Bisons back on the board with his signature fadeaway as the Gamecocks led 32-18.
Jacksonville State continued to fire on all cylinders and got out to a 20-point lead with 1:31 to play in the half before
Will Pruitt nailed a three pointer.
The Gamecocks got a layup at the halftime buzzer to take a 45-27 lead into the halftime break. At the half, JSU was shooting 64-percent from the field and 62-percent from behind the arc while Lipscomb was held to 40-percent and 18-percent, respectively.
After the break, Lipscomb found a bit more offensive rhythm. At the 17:05 mark of the second half, the Bisons had cut the JSU lead 49-34, but the Gamecocks continued shooting at an incredibly high clip.
Pruitt gave the Bisons some life when he forced a turnover defensively and then connected on a triple on the offensive end at the 13:35 mark.
The three ball continued to heat up for the Bisons when Schner spotted up from behind the arc with 11:52 remaining.
The Bisons got a little momentum when Pruitt was fouled on a three pointer. He made two of his three free throws, but Schner crashed the board and came away with the rebound. Schner found an open Pruitt who nailed a three pointer for a quick five-point swing, cutting the lead 64-52.
The three-ball continued to get the Bisons back in things when Asman nailed his third of the night which cut the JSU lead to 11-points, 66-55, with 7:24 to play.
Lipscomb's defense tightened up and held JSU scoreless for almost three minutes and Murr cashed in with a traditional three-point play to pull within single digits.
The Bisons defense continued to cause problems as it forced JSU's 13
th turnover of the night which continued to hold the Gamecocks off the board just before the under-four media timeout.
Out of the media timeout, Ognacevic connected with a pair of free throws to continue the Bisons' 8-0 run over nearly four minutes which pulled Lipscomb within six.
Jacksonville State put a halt to the run on the other end with an empathic dunk to get back out to a 68-60 lead.
Lipscomb, however, didn't let the momentum stay in JSU's favor as Murr was fouled and made both shots.
Derrin Boyd put Lipscomb within three after a free throw and a steal and bucket cut the lead 68-65 with 2:20 to go.
Schner was fouled with 56 seconds on the clock and connected on both shots from the charity stripe to put Lipscomb within a possession, 67-70.
With the ball and just under a minute to play, the Gamecocks used the clock well and connected on a jumper with 23 seconds left in the second frame.
Down five points with 20.5 seconds on the clock, head coach
Lennie Acuff called a timeout. The Bisons were unable to get a good look on the ensuing play and Jacksonville State closed out a 72-67 victory.
HERD NOTES
- Ognacevic and Pruitt led the way for the Bisons with 14 points each.
- Murr, Schner and Asman all finished with nine points.
- Pruitt grabbed a team-high six rebounds on the night.
- The Bisons' bench scored 29 of its points.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will stay on the road to take on Kennesaw State on Saturday, Jan. 28. Tipoff at KSU Convocation Center is set for 4 p.m. CT.
