Men's Basketball Falls Short At EKU To Start ASUN Play

Thursday, January 4

Richmond, KY

6:00 PM

Lipscomb University

9-7,0-1ASUN

Eastern Kentucky

5-9,1-0ASUN

Team	1	2	F
Lipscomb	29	43	72
Eastern Ky.	47	33	80

Men's Basketball Falls Short At EKU To Start ASUN Play

1/4/2024 7:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Final Score – Lipscomb: 72, Eastern Kentucky: 80
Location – Richmond, Ky. (Baptist Health Arena)
Records – Lipscomb: 9-7 (0-1, ASUN), EKU: 5-9 (1-0, ASUN)

THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb Men's Basketball was unable to overcome a slow first half as it fell to Eastern Kentucky 80-72 on the road to open Atlantic Sun play on Thursday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After the opening tip went out of bounds, Lipscomb was awarded the ball and Will Pruitt connected with Owen McCormack for a quick two points.

Pretty good opening possession ??#IntoTheStorm ?? l #HornsUp ?? pic.twitter.com/iCaWCv9RT6
— Lipscomb Men's Basketball (@LipscombMBB) January 5, 2024

Eastern Kentucky answered back and gave Lipscomb problems early with a heavy full court press that had the Bisons out of rhythm. At the first media timeout of the game, EKU held a 19-12 lead. Out of the break, the Colonels hit its sixth triple of the game to make it a 22-12 advantage.

EKU got out to as much as a 26-12 lead, but a 9-0 Lipscomb run, spurred by Derrin Boyd coming in off the bench with an immediate impact, saw the Bisons get back within five (26-21) with 8:41 left in the first half.

Back like he never left #IntoTheStorm ?? l #HornsUp ?? pic.twitter.com/q0h65y6lyq
— Lipscomb Men's Basketball (@LipscombMBB) January 5, 2024

EKU stopped the bleeding when it rolled in a shot at the end of the shot clock, but Lipscomb didn't let it rattle them. Joe Anderson made a huge triple from the wing a couple of possessions later that got Lipscomb within four points, 28-24, forcing an EKU timeout.

A couple of tough three-pointers went down for the Colonels out of the timeout which saw EKU race back out to a double-digit lead.

Lipscomb struggled over the final minutes of the half and the Colonels used a 7-0 run before the buzzer to take a 47-29 lead into the halftime break.

The first minutes of the second half were a shootout on both ends of the floor. The Bisons came out on fire with three-straight triples, but made-up little ground as EKU continued to convert on its own end. At the first media timeout of the second frame, Lipscomb trailed 58-42.

The Bisons went on a 6-0 run, capped off by a steal and three pointer nailed by AJ McGinnis to dwindle the lead back down to 10-points as the Bisons manufactured some momentum.

Defense ?? Offense #IntoTheStorm ?? l #HornsUp ?? pic.twitter.com/OEA9QvyBVp
— Lipscomb Men's Basketball (@LipscombMBB) January 5, 2024

EKU, however, punched back with a 6-0 run of its own to extend its lead back out 66-50 with just under 11 minutes left to play in the matchup.

Lipscomb and EKU traded buckets down the stretch and though the Bisons outscored EKU 43-33 in the second half, Lipscomb was unable to get over the hump after getting in an early hole. Lipscomb fell 80-72 at EKU in the first game of ASUN play.

HERD NOTES

Pruitt led all scorers with 22 points on the night. He also grabbed six rebounds.
Boyd was the only other Bison in double-digits with 11 points and added five rebounds.
Lipscomb shot just 39-percent from the field to EKU's 52-percent.
Each squad ended the night with six turnovers.

UP NEXT
ASUN play continues as the Bisons head to Louisville to play Bellarmine. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT.