On Friday night, Lipscomb and Belmont met for the 129th time. This time at the Curb Event Center, Rick Byrd’s team had an uncharacteristic collapse, losing the game 85-74 improving the Bison’s record in the series to 73-56.
While Lipscomb had won four of the last five meetings, the odds were against Scott Sanderson and his young team. With just three returning players from last year’s team – and Belmont returning all their starters – few believed that the Bisons had any chance.
However, the men actually playing the game thought otherwise.
Belmont had a three point lead at half, and with 9:18 left in the half, the Bruins had stretched their lead to 18.
That is when the Bisons took control of the game. Going on a 28-6 run in the last 8:58 – and holding the Bruins scoreless for over six minutes – Lipscomb was able to take the lead at the 3:53 mark on a Deonte Alexander jump shot. From that point on, the closest that Belmont would get would be four points.
Lipscomb held on to win with the final of 85-74.
Ian Clark lead all scorers with 28 points. Jacob Arnett had a great shooting night that gave him 17 points on the evening. Other Bisons in double figures were Damarius smith (11), Deonte Alexander (11), Malcolm Smith (12), Justin Glenn (14) and Jordan Burgason (16).
Burgason also got his 1000th point tonight, making him the sixth Lipscomb player to do so in the school’s NCAA era.
The win snapped Belmont’s 22-game home win streak snapped, and it was their worst home conference loss since February, 2002.
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