Final Score – Lipscomb: 65, Jacksonville: 70
Location – Swisher Gymnasium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Records – Lipscomb: 14-8 (7-2, ASUN), Jacksonville: 9-13 (4-5, ASUN)
 
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb nearly mounted an impressive second-half comeback after trailing late by 20, but ultimately couldn't overcome the late deficit and fell 70-65 at Jacksonville on Thursday night. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The pace of play was fast from the start. Jacksonville took an early 4-0 lead, but the Bisons settled in and narrowly trailed 8-7 at the first media timeout. 
 
Out of the timeout, Lipscomb tied the game up at nine each, but Jacksonville utilized a 9-1 run to get out to an 18-10 advantage with 12:13 on the clock. 
 
The Bisons' offense was scoreless for over five minutes, and Jacksonville took advantage, getting out to a 25-10 advantage before Ethan Duncan broke the Bisons' drought with a triple from the wing. 
 
Lipscomb got back within 10, but Jacksonville quickly got back out in front with a 34-19 advantage at the final media timeout of the half. 
 
Out of the timeout, the Bisons scored the next several points, but Jacksonville always found a shot when it needed to stay comfortably ahead. At the half, Lipscomb trailed 40-27. 
 
After the break, the Dolphins' lead ballooned 51-31 to force a Kevin Carroll timeout with 16:38 to play. 
 
Out of the timeout, Lipscomb went on an 8-0 run, cutting the Jacksonville lead 51-39, forcing a Jacksonville timeout with 13:07 on the clock. 
 
Lipscomb's run continued through the next three minutes as the Bisons shaved the JU lead 51-44 before the under-12 media timeout as Charlie Williams nailed a triple for his 17^th point of the game. 
 
Lipscomb continued to dominate, getting back within a possession, 41-49, when Mateo Esmeraldo nailed a wing triple. 
 
Jacksonville finally got back on the board after more than eight minutes, stretching the lead back out 57-49, but Lipscomb stayed the course and trailed just 57-52 with 6:24 to play. 
 
The squads continued to battle down the stretch, and Lipscomb narrowly trailed 59-58 at the final media timeout with 2:32 to play. 
 
Out of the break, Jacksonville scored the next four points, extending its lead back out 63-58 with 1:50 to play. Lipscomb got back on the board when Esmeraldo hit a tough fade-away at the end of the shot clock as Lipscomb trailed 63-60 and called a timeout with 1:21 to play. 
 
The Bisons were unable to get a stop on the next play, and Jacksonville led 65-62 with a minute to play. Williams converted for the Bisons, cutting the Jacksonville lead back down to 65-62, but there were just 35.2 seconds left on the clock. 
 
Lipscomb ultimately ran out of time to mount the comeback and fell 70-65 at Jacksonville. 
 
HERD NOTES

• Williams led the way with 22 points and added a team-high six rebounds
• Esmeraldo (11) and Duncan (10) also scored in double digits 
• Lipscomb shot 47.3% to Jacksonville's 49.1%
• Esmeraldo and Williams finished with four assists each

 
UP NEXT
The Bisons will remain in Jacksonville to take on North Florida on Saturday, Jan. 31. Tipoff at UNF Arena is set for 1 p.m. CT.