Final Score – Lipscomb: 86, FGCU: 71
Location – Allen Arena (Nashville, Tenn.)
Records – Lipscomb: 14-7 (7-1, ASUN), FGCU Eagles: 8-13 (2-6)
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb Men's Basketball exploded for 20 three pointers en route to an 86-71 victory over FGCU, improving to 7-1 in the ASUN.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lipscomb was active early behind the arc, when
Or Ashkenazi hit back-to-back triples to open up Lipscomb's scoring.
FGCU was also active behind the arc, with three early triples as it jumped out to a 14-7 advantage in the first three and a half minutes, prompting a Lipscomb timeout.
Out of the timeout, Lipscomb hit a three-pointer, but FGCU kept the damage limited. The Eagles continued to lead 20-13 at the under-12 media timeout.
The game was disjointed over the next several minutes, with neither team scoring for nearly five minutes and a lengthy delay due to a referee injury, but
Mateo Esmeraldo broke the drought with a triple, cutting the FGCU lead to 20-16 just before the under-eight media timeout.
Out of the timeout, Lipscomb hit back-to-back triples from Esmeraldo and
Cole Middleton, retaking a 22-20 advantage.
Lipscomb continued to fire with
Ethan Duncan making another pair of triples as Lipscomb saw a 28-22 advantage, forcing an FGCU timeout with 5:23 to play.
The Bisons held FGCU to two of its last 13 field goals and just four points over nine minutes before the under-four media timeout.
The Bisons continued to shoot the ball well down the stretch in the first half.
Ross Candelino hit another trey for the Bisons, a triple, giving it a 34-29 advantage with just over 50 seconds remaining.
FGCU hit a pair from the free throw line on its next possession, but Lipscomb had the final say in the half with an
Ethan Duncan triple as time expired for a 37-30 advantage at the half.
The Bisons came out of the break hot, getting out to a double-digit 44-34 lead after a
Titas Sargiunas three to force an early FGCU second-half timeout.
The squads continued to battle over the next several minutes, and Lipscomb continued to hold a 49-38 advantage at the under-16 media timeout.
Over the next minutes, Lipscomb outscored FGCU 10-5, to surge out to a 59-43 advantage with 12 minutes to play.
FGCU battled back with a 9-0 run to get back in single digits, cutting the Lipscomb lead 70-62 with 5:25 to play as Kevin Carroll called a timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Bisons executed a play to get a triple from
Grant Asman, getting back out to a 73-62 advantage.
The Bisons executed flawlessly down the stretch, running away with an 86-71 victory.
HERD NOTES
- The Bisons hit 20 three pointers as a squad
- Candelino led Lipscomb with 17 points. Other double-digit scorers included Ethan Dunan (15) and Grant Asman (12)
- Candelino also led the squad with seven rebounds
- Lipscomb shot 47% from the field and 54% from range
- Lipscomb won the rebounding battle 35-28
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will hit the road to take on Jacksonville on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. CT.
