Final Score – Lipscomb: 78, Central Arkansas: 86
Location – Nashville, Tenn. (Allen Arena)
Records – Lipscomb: 15-10 (8-4, ASUN), Central Arkansas: 14-10 (9-2, ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb Men's Basketball fell 86-78 to Central Arkansas on Saturday afternoon after a late comeback fell just short.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lipscomb got out to a slow start, going scoreless in its first four possessions, which allowed Central Arkansas to get out to an early 10-0 advantage before Lipscomb called an early timeout with 17:08 on the clock.
Out of the timeout, Lipscomb finally got on the board when
Mateo Esmeraldo found a cutting
Charlie Williams for an open layup. The Bisons further cut into the lead when
Grant Asman got the three-point scoring started for Lipscomb as the squad trailed 10-5 at the first media timeout.
Asman stayed hot out of the timeout with another triple to get Lipscomb right back in things.
Central Arkansas, however, turned Lipscomb over four times in the next three minutes and extended back out to a 21-11 advantage after a 7-0 run heading into the under-12 media timeout.
Despite its offensive struggles continuing, the Bisons held strong, keeping things close after
Kennedy Okpara came in off the bench and made an immediate impact with five quick points as Lipscomb trailed 27-20 with just over eight minutes to play in the half.
Before the final media timeout of the half, UCA didn't score for over two minutes, and Lipscomb trailed 33-28 with 3:44 to go in the half.
Out of the break, Lipscomb scored the next points with a deep triple from
Ethan Duncan, further cutting the Bears' lead 35-31.
The lead, however, quickly got back out to double digits, 42-31, for Central Arkansas with a 9-0 run. Lipscomb ultimately trailed 45-33 at the half.
Out of the break, Central Arkansas continued on to extend its lead 50-33, its largest of the game. The Bisons trailed 56-41 at the under-16 media timeout. Lipscomb's offensive woes continued, and the Bears took advantage as Lipscomb trailed 60-41 at the second media timeout of the half.
After the under-12 media timeout, Lipscomb went on an 8-0 run to spark a little momentum and get the deficit back to a manageable 62-52.
Lipscomb got back to single digits when
Cole Middleton and
Kellan Boylan both connected from the free throw line, as the Bisons trailed 62-55 with 8:30 to play.
Grant Asman continued to be a bright spot for the Bisons as he connected on two-straight triples to keep Lipscomb's 17-3 run alive as the Bisons trailed just 65-61 with 6:52 to play.
Central Arkansas, however, settled back in and got back out to a 72-63 advantage with five minutes to play.
The Bisons defended well over the next couple of minutes, but still trailed 79-73 with 1:25 left in regulation.
Lipscomb's comeback ultimately fell short as the Bisons fell 86-78 for their first home loss of the season.
HERD NOTES
- Asman finished with a team and career high 25 points and added three rebounds
- Candelino was the only other Lipscomb double-digit scorer with 13 points
- Lipscomb committed 15 turnovers, and the Bears scored 28 points off those turnovers
- Esmeraldo finished with eight rebounds and eight assists
- Lipscomb was out-rebounded 39-35
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will stay in Nashville to welcome Easter Kentucky on Wednesday, January 11. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.
