by Mckenzi Harris | Apr 6, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb had a big turnout on Thursday night to watch the NIT championship game. Despite the conflicting but re-scheduled Singarama show going on the same night, the Lipscomb student body showed out to support the team in its final game. The fans spent time discussing the season while sharing popcorn, snacks, sandwiches and desserts. There was also giveaways and a T-shirt throwing to get the fans into the game day spirit. But Thursday’s story was much different than that of Tuesday. The Bisons fought hard but fell short to Texas in the end. Singarama was scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday night, but due to the NIT Championship game happening at the same time, it was moved to 8 p.m., directly following the game. The crowd did die down a bit at halftime as students participating in Singarama went to get ready. But many students stayed to watch the game. Several students even did each other’s makeup for Singarama while sitting at tables watching the game in the cafeteria. There were some new students and audience members to come in and watch the game after half time as well. With five minutes left in the game, Lipscomb cheerleader Samson Tucker (who wasn’t able to make the trip to New York with the rest of the cheer team) said he wasn’t going to give up. “I know it’s a long shot, but I still have faith,” Tucker said. “I don’t give up till the last minute.” Following the championship, Lipscomb student Meagan Drake said she was disappointed about the team’s game. “I’m a little upset,” Drake said. “I feel like there’s...
by Russell Vannozzi | Apr 6, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Coach Casey Alexander and his Lipscomb team capped their season with an 81-66 loss to Texas in Thursday’s NIT championship game in New York. Naturally, the questions about Alexander’s future have already begun. He’s an obvious candidate for the open Belmont job after spending 20 total seasons with the Bruins – four as a player and 16 as a coach. But Alexander has been noncommittal in his public statements about the coaching vacancy so far. “Obviously there’s a lot of people talking about that,” he said at Lipscomb’s welcome home ceremony Friday afternoon. “I’m glad I’m the Lipscomb coach. We’ll deal with that when it happens, if it happens.” Alexander’s mentor and longtime Belmont head coach Rick Byrd announced his retirement Monday morning after 33 years on the Bruin sidelines. Alexander has routinely credited Byrd for impacting his life both on and off the court. “Belmont is important to me,” Alexander told 104.5 The Zone’s 3HL show Wednesday. “I spent 20 years there, I graduated from there, my wife graduated from there. I’ve got a history of 20 teams of players that were important to me. Hardly anybody’s more important to me than Coach Byrd is.” Before entering the coaching ranks, Alexander was a star player in his own right. He was a three-sport standout at Brentwood Academy and won two state championships. He later starred for Belmont’s basketball team (1992-95) and is among the school’s all-time leaders in assists and steals. Alexander was inducted into the Belmont Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. Two of Alexander’s current staff members – associate head coach Roger Idstrom and assistant coach...
by Kathryn Farris | Apr 5, 2019 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Despite Thursday’s disappointing basketball loss, Lipscomb didn’t hesitate to “Bring the Family” to the 56th annual Singarama show. Students gathered together in Collins Alumni Auditorium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon to see the first of three Singarama shows. “The Wonder Years” show, directed by Myron Sailors, took home “best theme” on Thursday night, “best music” on Friday night and “best staging” on Saturday afternoon. The two other groups are titled “Good Times” and “Perfect Strangers.” Only one show remains on Saturday night, which will reveal the “Sweepstakes” winner. The winning group for both nights was comprised of the social clubs Phi Sigma, Theta Psi and Kappa Chi, as well as several “friends.” Junior Emma Andrews said she joined “The Wonder Years” because of her love for performance. “I’m actually a theater minor, so I love dancing and singing,” she said. “I heard that anyone can join, even if you’re not in a club, so one of my friends invited me.” Andrews said winning was due to the great team the show has working together. “It’s all up to our writers,” Andrews said. “We performed as great as we can but props to the production team that put it together.” The Saturday matinee will award for “staging,” and the coveted Singarama Sweepstakes award will honor its winner Saturday evening. This story was updated after Singarama show three on Saturday, April...
by Lumination Staff | Apr 5, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
The charges against Lipscomb employee Alex Ross stemming from a March 10 incident at a Nashville bar have been dropped. Ross, Lipscomb’s assistant director of athletics operations, was charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest in the early morning hours of March 10 at the Tin Roof Bar on Demonbreun Street, according a Metro Nashville Police affidavit obtained by Lumination. Both charges were dropped by judge Michael Mondelli at the Davidson County Criminal Court Friday. Lipscomb Vice President of Public Relations Kim Chaudoin did not have an update on Ross’ employment status as of Friday afternoon. He is still listed as an employee on the school’s website. Following the initial arrest, Chaudoin issued a statement saying that Ross had been placed on leave while the university conducted an internal investigation. “Alex Ross is Assistant Director of Operations in the athletics department, which means his primary job duties are to provide lawn maintenance for the grounds and fields, facilities maintenance and setting up equipment for games. “He has been placed on leave pending an investigation. It is our policy for appropriate university officials to conduct an internal investigation and follow through as is consistent with internal policies. As this is an active case, we cannot comment on details of the incident,” Chaudoin said. According to the police affidavit, Ross was kicked out of the bar but refused to leave after security attempted to escort him out. Metro Nashville police officers also asked Ross to leave the premises, but he continued to refuse. When officers went to arrest Ross, he refused to give them his hands, and the officers had to forcefully take...
by Russell Vannozzi | Apr 5, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb men’s basketball walk-on Zach Flener will not return next season. The guard is set to graduate this summer after packing his strategic communication degree into just two years at Lipscomb. He doesn’t plan to use his final two years of eligibility at another university. “I’ve got a few classes left to take this summer, probably about 12 hours,” Flener said. “It’ll be a full summer.” Flener appeared in 14 games and scored 11 points this season. His season and career high came when he scored nine points in a 119-48 beatdown of Covenant last December. He arrived at Lipscomb in 2017 after taking about 30 college credit hours while attending Murray High School in Kentucky. He averaged 13.3 points per game as a senior with the Tigers. “I came in with a bunch of hours from [Murray State],” Flener said. “And I had a bunch of AP hours. Since then, I’ve been taking like 18 credits a semester and then 12 in the summers. “I’m taking 19 hours this semester. It’s rough.” The 5-foot-10, 169-pounder was a fan and team favorite, often keeping the mood light at practices and during pregame warmups. “I just love being around [the team],” he said. “I’ve met some of the best friends I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve kind of figured out that my role is to keep everyone loose and have as much fun as I can.” Flener’s departure frees up roster space for Lipscomb’s incoming recruiting class, which includes a handful of high school players and former Valparaiso forward Parker Hazen. Flener hopes to eventually work in an NBA front...
by Russell Vannozzi | Apr 5, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb senior Garrison Mathews has accepted an invite to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a four-day showcase in front of NBA scouts. Coach Casey Alexander confirmed the news at the team’s welcome home ceremony outside Allen Arena Friday afternoon. “It’s well-deserved,” Alexander said. “That’s the opportunity that will lead to his professional career and what kind of looks that he gets.” Mathews finished the season averaging 20.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He earned ASUN Player of the Year Honors and broke the school’s Division I scoring record with 2,480 career points. The Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational was established in 1953 to allow the nation’s 64 best college seniors a chance to showcase their skills in a 12-game tournament. All 30 NBA teams will have representatives at the tournament, which is slated for April 17-20 at the Churchland High School Sports Complex. Mathews is not currently listed in any NBA mock drafts. But he averaged 26 points per game in the NIT and likely turned heads with his 44-point outing at NC State and his 34-point performance against Wichita State in Madison Square Garden. “You go back-to-back games against NC State and Wichita State with 78 [combined] points…I think he probably got some people’s attention,” Alexander said. Only two Lipscomb players have ever been selected in the NBA Draft, and both came when the draft had more rounds. The 2019 draft consists of just two rounds and 60 overall picks. No former Bisons have ever appeared in an NBA game, so Mathews has a chance to become the first. Ron Rippitoe became the school’s first player selected in the draft...
