Final Score – Lipscomb: 101, Kennesaw State: 95
Location – Nashville, Tenn. (Allen Arena)
Records – Lipscomb: 15-10 (6-4, ASUN), Kennesaw State (13-11, 6-4, ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb Men's Basketball picked up its third-straight ASUN victory by defeating Kennesaw State 101-95 Saturday evening behind a 24-point performance from
Will Pruitt.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a 29-point performance Thursday night,
Derrin Boyd picked up where he left off scoring the first points of the game for the Bisons. He stayed hot with a traditional three-point play, giving KSU early problems.
The game was a physical back-and-forth battle to start, but Kennesaw State held a slight 14-11 advantage at the first media timeout.
The back-and-forth action continued as the squads were tied at 17 each at the under-12 media timeout.
Will Pruitt reached a big milestone with a pair of free throws during the stretch, reaching 1,000 points in his career.
Lipscomb got into the bonus early and took advantage, converting at a high clip from the free throw line to keep pace with the Owls.
The teams continued to battle through the next four minutes as the game remained tied 25-25 at the under-eight media timeout.
At the final media timeout of the half, Lipscomb trailed by a pair and Kennesaw State added a point to its lead with a free throw out of the break, but Lipscomb scored in back-to-back trips to take a 38-37 lead, forcing a Kennesaw State timeout.
Lipscomb however, went into the half down 43-40 to Kennesaw State.
Kennesaw State got out to a 55-47 lead early in the second half after Lipscomb's Boyd went out with an injury.
The Bisons stayed the course and got some momentum back on the offensive end, going 5-for-7 before the under-12 media timeout, to pull within four points, 59-63.
Out of the timeout, Anderson scored another pair, but the Owls punched back with a triple to halt the Lipscomb momentum.
Lipscomb tied things back up with just over 10 minutes to play when
Owen McCormack nailed a triple, but the lead was short lived as Kennesaw State answered with a three-pointer of its own.
Kennesaw got another bit of separation, 73-68, but McCormack got a much needed and-one, shaving the lead back down to three points with 8:10 left in the game.
The Bisons battled back to an 81-78 lead with 4:37 left after making four-straight field goals, including an
AJ McGinnis triple at the end of the shot clock.
The physicality continued, and Lipscomb handled it well, finishing through contact at the rim to give itself a chance to keep its lead, extending the advantage 85-80. Kennesaw State, however, got the bucket it needed to put the pressure back on the Bisons with a triple for a one-point game with 3:51 left, sending the game to the final media timeout.
The teams continued the back-and-forth battle with big shots on both ends of the floor.
The game was tied at 91-91 with 1:50 to play, but Kennesaw State committed a goaltend and Lipscomb regained a 93-91 advantage with 1:36 to play.
Lipscomb led 95-93 with under a minute left and a Kennesaw State offensive foul sent McCormack to the free throw line. He cashed in both for a 97-93 lead with 54 seconds to play.
Kennesaw State got another bucket to go to tighten Lipscomb's lead, but the Bisons had the ball to inbound and a 97-95 lead with 8.1 ticks on the clock.
On the inbound, Pruitt was fouled with seven seconds left on the clock. He cashed in on both for a 99-95 lead. KSU's last shot was off the mark and Pruitt was once-again fouled on the rebound. He drained the pair as Lipscomb saw out a 101-95 victory over the Owls.
HERD NOTES
- The Bisons shot 56-percent on the game to KSU's 48-percent.
- Lipscomb won the rebounding battle 38-34.
- Each team had eight turnovers on the evening.
- Pruitt led the way with 24 points. Other double-digit scorers included McGinnis (13), Boyd (13), McCormack (16) and Anderson (15).
- Pruitt and Dylan Faulkner both had seven rebounds.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will hit the road for the first of two road games Thursday, Feb. 15 at North Alabama. Tipoff in Florence is slated for 7:45 p.m. CT.
