Final Score: Lipscomb: 78, Central Arkansas: 60
Location: Nashville, Tenn. (Allen Arena)
Records: Lipscomb: 22-9 (14-4, ASUN), Central Arkansas: 8-23 (4-14, ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb Men's Basketball secured the ASUN Regular Season Championship on Wednesday night by defeating Central Arkansas 78-60 in Allen Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Central Arkansas won the tip, but was unable to score on its first possession. Lipscomb took advantage when
Joe Anderson drained a triple for an early 3-0 lead. The Bears didn't score in its next three trips down the floor, allowing the Bisons to get out to an early 8-0 advantage after a
Will Pruitt triple at the end of a shot clock forcing a UCA timeout.
Lipscomb kept its foot on the gas out of the timeout, making five of its last seven shots before the under-16 media timeout for an 18-7 advantage.
The Bisons continued to stay on the front foot to keep a 28-15 lead at the under-12 media timeout.
A 9-0 Central Arkansas run shaved the Lipscomb lead 28-20 with just under seven minutes to play in the half.
Gyasi Powell finally broke the Lipscomb dry spell of five offensive possessions with a driving layup, getting Lipscomb back out to a double-digit lead. Another Pruitt triple pushed Lipscomb ahead 33-22 at the final media timeout of the half.
Lipscomb struggled to score in the final minutes and Central Arkansas got back within single digits before the half as Lipscomb held a 35-26 advantage heading into the break.
Central Arkansas came out with a full court press on the first possession of the second half, but Lipscomb handled it well. The first points of the half came from
Charlie Williams with a triple from the corner.
Central Arkansas continued to battle, however, and stayed with the Bisons. Lipscomb held a 43-35 advantage at the first media timeout of the second half.
The Bears pulled within a possession, 46-43, with 11:56 left in regulation.
Lipscomb dug in and started finding the basket again. A
Miles White triple at the end of the shot clock gave the Bisons back a double-digit lead with just under 10-minutes to play.
The Bisons continued to cling to a 61-49 advantage at the under-eight media timeout.
Out of the timeout, Lipscomb outscored the Bears 9-4 to increase its advantage 70-53.
Lipscomb was able to defend down the stretch and see out a 78-60 victory over Central Arkansas to secure the ASUN Regular Season Championship and earn the No. 1 seed in the ASUN Tournament.
HERD NOTES
- Ognacevic led all scorers with 20 points and notched his ninth double-double of the season with 11 rebounds.
- Every Lipscomb starter scored in double digits.
- The Bisons shot 45-percent from the field and 39-percent from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will play in the ASUN Quarterfinal matchup on Monday, March 3 at 7 p.m. CT. Lipscomb will play the winner of No. 9 Stetson and No. 10 Central Arkansas.
