Second Half Comeback Falls Short Against Blue Raiders

Thursday, December 19

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:30 PM

Lipscomb University

7-5,0-0ASUN

Middle Tennessee

9-3,0-0CUSA

Team	1	2	F
Lipscomb	30	35	65
Middle Tenn.	37	30	67

Second Half Comeback Falls Short Against Blue Raiders

12/19/2024 8:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Final Score: Lipscomb: 65, Middle Tennessee State: 67
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Murphy Center)
Records: Lipscomb: 7-5, MTSU: 9-3

THE SHORT STORY

A second-half comeback fell just short as Lipscomb fell at MTSU 67-65 on Thursday night at the Murphy Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams came out of the gate hot offensively, but MTSU jumped out to a 9-4 lead. Lipscomb, however, quickly cut into the deficit, 9-8, with the help of a pair of blocks. MTSU retook the momentum and got back out to a 13-8 lead at the first media timeout.

The game continued at a quick pace, but the Blue Raiders continued to hold a slight 18-14 advantage at the second media timeout of the first half.

Cash it #IntoTheStorm ?? | #HornsUp ?? pic.twitter.com/n4w33ZqOzX
— Lipscomb Men's Basketball (@LipscombMBB) December 20, 2024

Lipscomb scored the first points out of the timeout and held MTSU scoreless in the next few possessions, but never could take advantage for a lead. The back-and-forth action continued as Lipscomb trailed 23-18 with 7:13 left in the first frame.

The Bisons continued to stand strong defensively, but struggled to really get its offense going over the next several minutes, trailing 30-22 at the final media timeout of the first half.

Out of the break, Lipscomb went on a 6-2 run, cutting the MTSU lead 32-28, which forced a Blue Raiders timeout with 2:03 left on the halftime clock.

Sent that ball back to Nashville #IntoTheStorm ?? | #HornsUp ?? pic.twitter.com/ajy6HpH47I
— Lipscomb Men's Basketball (@LipscombMBB) December 20, 2024

Lipscomb trailed by four with the halftime clock winding down, but MTSU, after missing its last seven field goal attempts, nailed a triple at the end of the shot clock to take a 37-30 lead into the halftime break.

The Bisons came out of the halftime gate hot, shaving the MTSU lead down to a possession, but the Blue Raiders continued to find the big shots when it needed to slow the Bisons' momentum and held a 46-41 advantage with just under 17 minutes to play.

Lipscomb went cold, not scoring for the next three minutes which saw the Blue Raiders push back out to a 50-41 advantage.

MTSU ballooned out to a double-digit advantage, but Gyasi Powell came up with a much-needed triple to keep the Bisons within striking distance (54-47).

Lipscomb, however, continued to do enough to keep MTSU from pulling away. Jacob Ognacevic continued to score at a high clip and make some key passes that kept the Lipscomb offense alive as the Bisons trailed 60-53 with 8:30 left in the game.

The Bisons offense connected on its next four shots, shaving the MTSU lead 62-58, with the help of a Gyasi Powell triple from the top of the key just before the under-eight media timeout to ratchet up the pressure on the Blue Raiders.

Nothing but net #IntoTheStorm ?? | #HornsUp ?? pic.twitter.com/FblaQfRSym
— Lipscomb Men's Basketball (@LipscombMBB) December 20, 2024

Out of the break, Ross Candelino made a pair of free throws to make it a one-possession game with just over seven minutes of basketball to play.

MTSU was scoreless in its next possession and Ognacevic made a tough jumper on the other end, tying the game at 62-all. The first tie since the first minutes of the matchup.

Clutch#IntoTheStorm ?? | #HornsUp ?? pic.twitter.com/kRlI69peFi
— Lipscomb Men's Basketball (@LipscombMBB) December 20, 2024

The Bisons took its first lead of the night shortly after when Ognacevic hustled to pick up a loose ball and beat the shot clock with a floater for a 64-63 Lipscomb lead with 5:12 to play.

Neither team scored for the next nearly two minutes, but MTSU connected on a contested jumper to retake a 65-64 lead with 3:21 left to play.

MTSU scored the next points for a 67-64 lead with 1:04 left to play, prompting a head coach Lennie Acuff timeout.

With 55.4 on the clock, Ognacevic was fouled and he made one of two from the charity stripe as Lipscomb trailed 67-65.

Lipscomb got a stop and had possession, down two, with just over 30 seconds on the clock. The Bisons got down to the end of the shot clock and couldn't connect on a triple. MTSU was fouled on the rebound and missed both shots from the line. The Bisons, however, weren't able to get a good shot off in the final seconds and fell 67-65 in Murfreesboro.

HERD NOTES

Ognacevic scored a season-high 32 points on the night, going 12-18 from the field.
Ognacevic also had four blocks, six rebounds and a steal.
Powell scored double-digits, finishing with 11 points.
MTSU out-rebounded the Bisons 47-29.
Lipscomb shot 46-percent from the field and 22-percent from three.

UP NEXT
Lipscomb breaks for the Christmas holiday, but will be back in action Sunday, Dec. 29 against Asbury. Tipoff in Allen Arena is set for 4 p.m. CT.