by Brianne Welch | Nov 30, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The Lady Bisons Volleyball team received an at large bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time in Atlantic Sun history Sunday night. After the most recent RPI ranking was released on Nov. 24, the Lady Bisons moved into the no. 31 spot. Based on the wins throughout the season, different rankings during the season and their record of 21-8, the team was granted a bid into the NCAA tournament where they will face Ohio State in the first round. The Lady Bisons won the conference regular season championship, but fell to Jacksonville 3-1 in the tournament championship game. JU will take on Florida State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. It is the first time that the Atlantic Sun has placed two teams in the tournament. The game will take place Friday Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. CST in Lexington, Kent. Photo courtesy of Lipscomb...
by Logan Butts | Nov 24, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
For the second time in only a week the Lipscomb Bisons have fallen to their Battle of the Boulevard rival Belmont Bruins, this time by a score of 82-77. The 136th edition of the ‘Battle’ had a familiar feeling as the Bruins came out with a victory for the seventh iteration in a row, albeit by a much closer margin than this season’s first matchup. “I’m proud of our players,” Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander said.” “[They showed] a lot of persistence, and real great effort to battle back like that.” Seniors Malcolm and Martin Smith kept the Bisons in the game in the final moments. Both finished with 21 points on the night. Malcolm Smith tied Talbott Denny for a team leading 6 rebounds and notched 3 assists as well. “They’re [Martin and Malcolm Smith] seniors and they’re both thousand-point scorers.” Alexander said, “That’s what they’ve proven they can do. They have to keep doing it.” Clutch free throws from junior Craig Bradshaw down the stretch helped secure the victory for the Bruins. Bradshaw scored 29 points in the game, a new career high, and went 5-7 from downtown. He also collected 5 rebounds and 4 assists. “He was their best player down the stretch last year,” Alexander said about Bradshaw, “He’s had some unbelievable games, and he killed us when he had to kill us.” A back-breaking three-pointer from junior Jeff Laidig started the Bruins on a devastating 14-0 run in the waning moments of the first half. Laidig’s basket, which came directly after Lipscomb’s Malcolm Smith had tied the game at 27, crippled any momentum the...
by Logan Butts | Nov 22, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Bisons survived a spooky first half from the Transylvania Pioneers to win 74-63. The Pioneers hung close in the first half, but the Bisons were able to expand the lead once they hit the court in the second frame. “They were making tough shots at the end of the shot clock,” head coach Casey Alexander said. “And that’s really all we can ask for our defense to do. It’d be nice to get a turnover, but to force them to plat offense for a long time and then throw up a couple of prayers, but beyond that they just played well. They played with a lot of confidence.” The Bisons second half surge benefitted from a pressure defense that forced the Pioneers into committing numerous turnovers, several of which led to quick transition baskets for Lipscomb. The fast-paced offense combined with the suffocating defense had the Bisons clicking in the second half. Freshman Nate Moran led all scorers on the night with 16 to go along with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Sophomore Josh Williams almost notched a double-double in the game with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Lipscomb managed to keep a balanced attack for entirety of the game. Nine Bisons in all scored during the game, including three in double figures. Sophomore Brett Wishon was the other Bison in double-figures with 10 alongside Williams and Moran. “We’ll play the one’s who deserve to play,” Alexander said, “If that’s eight, we’ll play eight. If that’s 12 or 13 we’ll do that.” Senior Malcolm Smith finished the game with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists...
by Joe Sanderson | Nov 19, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
With a 3-0 sweep of USC Upstate and 3-1 victory over Kennesaw State University last weekend, the lady Bisons clinched the regular season championship and with it secured the No. 1 seed heading into the Atlantic Sun Tournament. Head coach Brandon Rosenthal knew that something was different with the team this year with heir attitude towards the game and outlook on winning. “Going to Kansas and beating Kansas, going to Missouri and beating Missouri and Illinois State,” Rosenthal said, “It was just one of those years where everybody believed and it was special.” Injuries and illness plagued the team towards the start of the season, but they found a way to fight back and end conference play 13-1. Rosenthal said that it’s not necessarily about the talent but the character. Over a quarter of the team are seniors this year and their leadership was apparent in each and every game they played during the regular season. “We talked at the beginning of the year about leaving a legacy, and that has nothing to do with wins and losses, it has everything to do with who you are,” said Rosenthal. “These girls, led by our seniors have done that.” Rosenthal mentioned when you have a season like theirs you expect to win every match you go into and there’s definitely an expectation of going into the tournament and winning. “I don’t think there’s any surprise for us or for anyone else that we want to do this,” said Rosenthal. “We aren’t going to win every set 25-0, we know they’re going to push us.” The Lady Bisons went 20-7 overall...
by Sarah McGee | Nov 18, 2014 | Sports
Lipscomb’s men’s soccer team ended its season Friday night in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, but despite the loss the team did finish with a successful season. The Bisons had the home field advantage for the tournament after they earned the right by tying for first place in the A-Sun regular season with a 4-1-1 record, 12-4-1 overall. It was the first ever regular season championship for the men’s team since joining the conference. Not only did the Bisons receive team acknowledgements, but also individual players were recognized by the Atlantic Sun. Senior Luke Gearin was named the Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year, and freshman Ivan Alvarado was Freshman of the Year. The team had five players on the Atlantic Sun All-Conference team. The Bisons entered the tournament with high expectations based on their season record, but unfortunately they couldn’t pull through. The men lost 3-0 to North Florida who eventually won the tournament championship. The Bisons matched up against the Ospreys on a freezing evening this past Friday. The weather was easily one of the biggest challenges that each competing team faced during the tournament weekend. Despite the below freezing temperature, fans showed up to support the Bisons and cheer them on. “The weather was definitely something to deal with for all of the teams,” senior Zander El-Hindi said. “It speaks volumes to us as a team that our fans cheered us on for ninety minutes in twenty-degree weather.” UNF took the lead early on in the game scoring their first goal only nine minutes in. The Bisons worked hard to catch up and take the lead,...
by Sarah McGee | Nov 17, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The men’s golf team at Lipscomb put the finishing touches on the most successful fall season since the athletic program made the move to NCAA Division I. Will Brewer, director of golf and the head coach of the men’s golf team, was impressed with the fall as the team met most of his expectations including winning a tournament as a team and also having an individual player win as well. But the team is still planning on improving by working on the basic fundamentals, and making sure that all of the players are in the right mindset during each match. “We continue to talk about process,” Brewer said. “How you think, how you prepare for a particular shot. It allows you to swing unimpeded and helps you take a better shot.” By focusing on the process, it allows for the players to gain confidence and produce a better shot. Brewer said maintaining concentration during a golf game is important. “We’ll continue to work on the fundamentals and the things that we have to do to get better.” Brewer said. The top finishes for the men in the fall included a first place finish at the Kenny Perry Invitational hosted by Western Kentucky, a third place finish at the Pinetree Intercollegiate hosted by Kennesaw State and a sixth place finish at The Grove Invitational, co-hosted by Lipscomb and Middle Tennessee State, in College Grove. The Bisons had an outstanding recruiting class for the 2014 season, and that showed out on the golf course. Freshman Dawson Armstrong was a standout new team member. Armstrong was the MVP of the season despite...
