Final Score – Lipscomb: 83, Stetson: 91
Location – Edmunds Center (DeLand, Fla.)
Records – Lipscomb: 9-7 (2-1, ASUN), Stetson: 6-10 (2-1, ASUN)
 
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb Men's Basketball was unable to overcome a slow first half, falling to Stetson 91-83 in DeLand, Florida on Thursday night. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Lipscomb scored on its first possession of the night, but the offense started slow, giving Stetson the chance to get out to a 9-4 advantage at the first media timeout. 
 
The shooting troubles continued out of the break and the Hatters jumped out to a 17-8 lead. The Bisons hit a triple out of the next media timeout, but Stetson answered with one of its own. 
 
The Bisons began to claw back when Grant Asman converted an and-one opportunity, and Lipscomb picked up a zone defense that slowed the Hatters' hot shooting. Lipscomb, however, wasn't able to connect on the offensive end, and Stetson continued to lead 30-16 at the under-eight media timeout. 
 
The Hatters continued to control things, and hit a triple at the buzzer as Lipscomb trailed 46-28 at the halftime buzzer. Stetson was shooting over 57% at the half to the Bisons' 38%. 
 
Lipscomb came out shooting much better in the second half, cutting the lead down to 13, but Stetson continued to respond when it needed a shot. Lipscomb trailed 53-37 at the first media timeout of the half. 
 
 The Bisons pulled within 11, but Stetson, once again, made big three-pointers when needed to extend the lead back out 65-46 with just under 12 to play. 
 
Lipscomb, however, stayed strong and continued to fight, trailing 67-53 at the under-eight timeout. 
 
Out of the timeout, Asman connected on a pair from the charity stripe, and the Bisons stole the inbounds pass. A free throw on the resulting play pulled Lipscomb within 67-56. 
 
The Bisons picked up a full-court press that slowed down the Hatters, and got within single digits, 72-63, when Mateo Esmeraldo nailed a triple. 
 
The lead stayed at nine with 3:55 left to play as Lipscomb trailed 76-67. Lipscomb inched closer, 78-71, but was running out of time with 2:35 left on the clock. 
 
Lipscomb got a steal and score with just over a minute to play, cutting the Stetson lead 81-75. 
The squads traded buckets over the next 30 seconds as Lipscomb called a timeout, trailing 83-77 with 27.9 left to play.  
 
The Bisons pulled within four, 87-83, with six seconds to go, but were unable to overcome poor first half shooting, ultimately falling 91-83.
 
HERD NOTES

• Lipscomb shot 52.6% to Stetson's 52.7%
• Asman led Lipscomb with 21 points. Other double-digit scorers included Charlie Williams (11) and Ethan Duncan (14)
• Lipscomb outrebounded Stetson 33-29
• Lipscomb committed 14 turnovers on the night 
• Asman led Lipscomb with 12 rebounds, marking his second consecutive double-double 

 
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will continue its first ASUN road stint at FGCU on Saturday, January 10. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT.