Final Score: Lipscomb: 75, North Alabama: 63
Location: Nashville, Tenn. (Allen Arena)
Records: Lipscomb: 20-9 (12-4, ASUN), North Alabama: 20-9 (12-4, ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb Men's Basketball notched its 20
th-win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating North Alabama 75-63 to stay at the top of the ASUN standings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
As expected, the game got out to a quick pace with a lot on the line. At the first media timeout, however, the Bisons held a slight 9-5 advantage.
Lipscomb continued to shoot well and stay in front for the next several minutes. Good perimeter shooting from
Joe Anderson and
Gyasi Powell kept the Bisons ahead 22-14 at the second media timeout.
North Alabama started to gain a little momentum heading into the third media timeout of the second half, cutting the Lipscomb lead 26-21.
Out of the break, Lipscomb outscored the Lions 5-2, opening up a 31-23 lead with 3:41 left in the half.
Over the final minutes, Lipscomb caught fire and made its last three field goals and held UNA without a field goal in the final four minutes of the half for a 40-26 advantage at the break.
North Alabama scored the first four points of the second half from the free throw line, but Powell finally got Lipscomb back on the board with a triple after beautiful ball movement from the Bisons.
The physicality continued to pick up from both sides with several fouls called, but the Bisons continued to stay ahead 48-35 at the first media timeout of the second half.
Lipscomb continued to outpace the Lions for a 56-40 advantage at the 12:03 mark of the second half.
Just before the under eight media timeout, Lipscomb got some major momentum when
Miles White came up with a massive block on the defensive end and
Will Pruitt answered with a triple that pushed the Bisons out to a 66-49 lead.
North Alabama cut into the Lipscomb lead with 4:25 to play as it started scoring at a higher clip, but Lipscomb still held onto a 71-59 lead as the Lions called a timeout.
A 6-0 North Alabama run got the Lions back within 10, 71-61, with 3:10 to play, but Lipscomb handled the UNA full-court press and made its free throws down the stretch.
Lipscomb got the stops needed down the stretch, and came away with a massive 75-63 victory on Tuesday night.
HERD NOTES
- Lipscomb's leading scorer was Ognacevic with 21 points and he added eight rebounds. Also scoring in double-digits were Powell (17), Pruitt (18) and Anderson.
- Lipscomb shot 50-percent from the field and 41-percent from deep.
- The Bisons won the rebounding battle 33-28.
- Powell finished the night with a team-high six assists while Anderson had four steals.
FROM THE BENCH
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will be back in action Monday, Feb. 24 at Austin Peay. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
