Final Score – Lipscomb: 73, North Alabama: 51
Location – Nashville, Tenn. (Allen Arena)
Records – Lipscomb: 18-11 (11-5, ASUN), North Alabama: 8-19 (3-13, ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY
An explosive second half led Lipscomb to a 73-51 victory over North Alabama on Saturday afternoon in its final home matchup of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
North Alabama won the tip, but was unable to connect on its first possession. It took a couple of minutes for either team to score, but Lipscomb got things started with a
Charlie Williams triple. Lipscomb went on to an early 5-4 lead at the first media timeout.
The back-and-forth action continued early as North Alabama led 10-9 at the under-12 media timeout.
Lipscomb continued to struggle offensively, shooting just 30%, allowing UNA to get out to an 18-13 lead with nine minutes left in the half.
Ross Candelino injected some life into the Bisons with back-to-back triples, shaving the UNA lead 20-19 and forcing a Lions timeout with 7:57 left in the half.
Lipscomb, however, couldn't get over the hump and continued to trail 22-21 at the final media timeout of the half.
The Bisons tied things up at 23 apiece with 1:50 to go in the half on a
Grant Asman layup. Lipscomb got a stop on the next possession and took a slight 24-23 advantage after connecting from the charity stripe.
North Alabama, however, scored the final points of the half as the Bisons trailed 26-24 at the half. Lipscomb was plagued with turnovers in the first frame, with seven, and was outrebounded 21-16.
The teams traded buckets throughout the early minutes of the second half, and the game sat tied 34-34 at the first media timeout of the second frame.
Out of the timeout, Lipscomb retook a 37-34 lead when Candelino drained his third triple of the night.
Lipscomb continued to connect offensively, and held North Alabama to an over two and a half minute scoring drought, opening up a 43-37 advantage at the under-12 media timeout.
The next four minutes were full of back-and-forth action with Lipscomb keeping a 50-43 lead at the under-eight media timeout.
Lipscomb carried all of the momentum out of the timeout, using a 12-2 run, capped off by a
Titas Sargiunas triple, to extend a 57-43 lead and force a UNA timeout.
Lipscomb's dominance continued through the next minutes, as the squad took a 64-45 advantage into the final media timeout.
Lipscomb dominated the second frame and continued on for a 73-51 victory in its final home game of the season.
HERD NOTES
- Candelino led Lipscomb with 16 points while other double-figure scorers included Asman (12) and Kellan Boylan (10).
- Asman was Lipscomb's leading rebounder with eight
- Lipscomb shot 58% from the floor and 40% from deep
- North Alabama out-rebounded Lipscomb 34-33
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will hit the road for its final two regular season matchups. The Bisons will play at West Georgia on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. CT.
