The bench showed up, and the sophomore walk-ons produced 30 points as Lipscomb’s men’s basketball team blew out the Division III Covenant Scots (5-3) on Monday night.
The Bisons (8-3) stormed the court with a 119-48 win at Allen Arena in front of a sparse, 1000-member Christmas-break audience. While Lipscomb improves its record, Covenant’s schedule had Lipscomb as an exhibition opponent.
“[A] lot of guys got to play, and guys were ready to play when their number was called,” Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander said. “That’s all that you can ask for as a coach.”
Although senior guard Garrison Mathews tallied a team-leading 22 points, it was sophomore guard John Matt Merritt who stole the stage.
The former walk-on posted 21 points off the bench, all of which came in the second half. From the three-point range, Merritt went 3-of-4. Coming into the game, Merritt had managed just five points all year.
“I would not hesitate to put him in any game, any time, because I trust him, and he’s worked really hard,” Alexander said. “And…he deserves it. He’s just had other people in front of him.”
Lipscomb’s bench ended up with 69 points total. Zach Flener, another walk-on sophomore guard, put up nine points as well after having two all year. Freshman guards Alex Jones and Jake Wolfe scored ten points apiece.
“[I’ve] got really good teammates, they’re very unselfish,” Merritt said. “They put the ball in the right place.”
It was a great showing from a unit that will have to step up in place of five current solid seniors when the season ends.
Meanwhile for the Scots, freshman guard Bryce Watts scored 10 points. Freshman guard Jackson Fitzgerald grabbed three assists as well.
The Bisons started out strong with a few easy layups and practically shut out Covenant the entire first half. Lipscomb led 59-14 at halftime, limiting Covenant to four three-pointers and two free throws.
After Scots junior guard James Mitchell knocked in a three-pointer to cut the Bisons’ lead to 21-9, the Bisons stampeded on a 22-0 run that lasted nearly eight minutes and ended with just under five left in the first.
A little more second-half breathing room wasn’t enough. In both halves combined, the Bisons ended up out-rebounding 55-22 and out-assisting 30-11. Covenant also turned the ball over 23 times.
“We’ve been a really good defensive team,” Alexander said. “I think we’re bigger — a little bit bigger, stronger, faster than what they’re used to. And any time you’re hurried like that, you tend to, tend to turn it over more.”
The Bisons were also a little battered, too. Sophomore guard Greg Jones and junior forward Michael Buckland hung out on the bench in polos and khakis. Alexander said they “are battling some nagging injuries — hopefully they’ll be back soon,” but he didn’t say anything else.
Lipscomb stays home for a Friday-night matchup against Vermont. Tipoff at Allen Arena is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics