Final Score – Lipscomb: 57, UCF: 72
Location – Orlando, Fla. (Addition Arena)
Records – Lipscomb: 6-4, UCF: 5-2
 
THE SHORT STORY
After a tough first half, Lipscomb Men's Basketball fell 72-57 on the road to Big 12 opponent, University of Central Florida on Saturday afternoon in Orlando. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Lipscomb got on the board first after Derrin Boyd converted on a free throw for a 1-0 lead. The Bisons defense was stout through the first minutes, allowing just one bucket. AJ McGinnis connected from midrange and Boyd nailed a triple as the Bisons held a 6-3 advantage at the first media timeout of the game. 
 
Out of the timeout, Central Florida found a groove and went on an extended 21-5 run to get out to a 24-11 advantage with 7:47 left to play in the first half. 
 
After the under eight media timeout, the Bisons punched back with back-to-back three pointers by McGinnis and Will Pruitt and the six-point run shaved the UCF advantage 24-17, forcing a Knights timeout. 
 
The next four minutes were turnover ridden as Lipscomb forced four UCF turnovers, but was unable to capitalize, going 0-for-4 on the offensive end. Only one free throw was made during the stretch as the Bisons trailed 26-18 with 3:34 left in the first half. 
 
Boyd seemed to give Lipscomb a little momentum when he nailed a triple as the shot clock expired, keeping Lipscomb in single digits, but UCF responded with an 8-0 run, extending to a 36-21 lead as head coach Lennie Acuff called a timeout with 1:26 left in the half. 
 
At the halftime break, the Bisons trailed 39-23. Lipscomb struggled from the field, shooting just 28-percent while the Knights were connecting at a 43-percent clip. McGinnis and Boyd kept Lipscomb in striking distance as both poured in 10 points. Pruitt was the only other Bison to record a point with three in the half. 
 
In the second half, the Bisons seemed to settle in and find some momentum when Boyd continued to shine. He made big play after big play as Lipscomb began to chip away. A 7-0 Lipscomb run, highlighted by a pair of steals and capped off by a triple from Boyd, got the Bisons back in single digits, 48-40, forcing a UCF timeout with 14:12 to go in the second frame. 
 
UCF, however, was strong out of the timeout and bounced back out to a 13-point advantage, putting the Bisons back on the ropes, but Lipscomb wouldn't give up and continued to make big shots to stay in striking distance. Owen McCormack nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key to get the Bisons back to just a 10-point deficit, 55-45 before the under-12 media timeout. 
 
The Knights were able to get back out to a double-digit lead. The Bisons stayed in things, but fell behind 70-54 at the final media timeout. 
 
Despite outscoring the Knights in the second half, Lipscomb ultimately fell 72-57 on the road Saturday afternoon to UCF. 
 
HERD NOTES

• Boyd led all scorers with 22 points, he also led Lipscomb with four rebounds. 
• McGinnis was the only other Bison in double figures with 14 points. 
• The Bisons shot 39-percent from the field and 38-percent from three-point range. 
• Lipscomb was plagued with turnovers, finishing with 20, well over their season average of 10.9 per game. 

 
UP NEXT
Lipscomb's next game is the 2023 edition of the Battle of the Boulevard at Belmont on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Tipoff at the Curb Event Center is set for 7 p.m. CT.