Final Score – Lipscomb: 83, Stetson: 70
Location – DeLand, Fla. (Edmunds Center)
Records – Lipscomb: 20-12 (11-7, ASUN), Stetson: 17-14 (12-6, ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb pulled out a massive 83-70 victory at Stetson in the ASUN Quarterfinal for its 20
th win of the season. A furious last seven minutes from Lipscomb cemented the win for the Bisons as it outscored Stetson 29-15 over the stretch.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stetson got on the board early with a quick layup, but Lipscomb responded with a pair of free throws on the other end. On the Hatters' next two possessions, Lipscomb forced a tough shot at the end of the shot clock and a jump ball, setting a tough tone.
Lipscomb took its first lead when
Ahsan Asadullah and
Jacob Ognacevic scored four quick for a 6-2 advantage.
The pace was furious, but the Bisons stayed in front with the help of a big three-pointer by
Derrin Boyd. Stetson scored just before the media timeout, but Lipscomb stayed in front 13-8.
Out of the timeout, Stetson scored a pair, but Ognacevic answered offensively with a triple to get back out to a two-possession lead.
Lipscomb's defense continued to give Stetson trouble. The Bisons got a quick two when
Quincy Clark checked into the game and blocked a Stetson shot and quickly got the ball up the floor to a waiting Ognacevic who converted the contested layup for an 18-13 advantage.
The Bisons got out to as much as an eight-point lead, but Stetson clawed back in with the help of a 4-0 run as the Bisons held a 24-20 advantage with 7:07 left to go in the first half.
Stetson picked up a full court press to try and slow down the Lipscomb offense, but the Bisons handled it well and pulled back out to a seven-point lead with a
Will Pruitt tripld.
After another good defensive stand, Boyd put Lipscomb ahead by double-digits with a long three-pointer for a 30-20 advantage.
Stetson used a 5-0 run to get back in five, but Ognacevic fought through traffic and got a bucket to keep Lipscomb's momentum.
Stetson, however, started slowing down the Lipscomb offense and pulled within a point, 32-31 with a minute and a half left in the first half.
The squads kept pace through the final minute as the Bisons took a 35-33 lead into the halftime break.
Out of the break, Lipscomb scored the first bucket, but the Hatters scored the next five for a 38-37 advantage.
After being scoreless for over three minutes,
AJ McGinnis got Lipscomb back on the board with a driving layup to get the Bisons back within a point.
Lipscomb couldn't buy a bucket and the Hatters took advantage, taking a 45-39 lead with 14:16 left on the second-half clock.
The Bisons punched back with four-unanswered to get back within a point with buckets from Pruitt and McGinnis at the rim.
After trailing again by five,
Trae Benham got nothing but net on a triple, getting the Bisons back within a pair, 49-47, just before the under-12 media timeout (10:19).
The Bisons retook the 50-49 lead after the timeout with a massive three-pointer from the wing from Ognacevic.
Matt Schner gave the Bisons a two-point lead again with just under seven to play when he nailed a triple for a 57-55 advantage.
The lead extended 60-55 when Boyd hit another three-pointer from the corner that forced a Stetson timeout.
Quincy Clark began to heat up for the Bisons making a couple of tough driving layups to keep Lipscomb ahead.
Stetson called another timeout after Ognacevic picked up the ball at half court and took the ball all the way to the hoop for a 68-62 advantage with 3:46 left in the second half.
Out of the final media timeout, the Bisons went on a 7-0 run to open a 75-64 lead with under two minutes to play.
Clark hit a pair of free throws with 1:42 left to put Lipscomb ahead 77-64 and the Bisons got a steal and score, further stretching the lead 79-64.
The Bisons closed things out on a tear and took away an 83-70 win to advance to the ASUN Semifinal.
HERD NOTES
- Ognacevic led the way with 22 while Boyd had 21 points on the night.
- Clark finished the night with seven points, nine assists, a steal and two blocks.
- Lipscomb outscored the Hatters 38-28 in the paint.
- The Bisons shot over 47% from the field and 43% from range.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will head to Kennesaw, Ga. to take on Kennesaw State in the ASUN Semifinal. Tipoff at KSU is set for Thursday, March 2 at 6 p.m. CT.
