[Video] Former Bison Adnan Hodzic encourages peers to follow Christ

by | Jan 23, 2012 | News Slider, Sports

Adnan Hodzić, former Lipscomb basketball star, graduated last May and went on to extend his basketball career in Germany. He returned to his alma mater to give his spiritual testimonial about how exactly Jesus Christ changed his life forever. After the testimonial, Lumination Network sat down with Hodzić who has changed so much in seven short months, not just physically but spiritually. Please upgrade your browser Hodzic plays professionally for the German BBL club Walter Tigers Tübingen and was given a week off during the league’s All-Star Day break. “I learned this year to really lean on the Lord,” Hodzic told LipscombSports.com. “He blessed me. I’m a firm believer in Christ. I see him working in my life. I give all the glory to him, man, because he’s helped me and without him I don’t know where I would be now going through all the struggles that I did at the beginning of the season.” When asked about his plans for the future, Hodzic offered only one specific goal. “My goal is to just keep following the path that God wants me to be on,” Hodzic said. “I don’t really think much outside of that because when you start looking at that kind of stuff it can add stress to you. … For me, I’m just looking at this season playing as hard as I can and then the offers will come next season.” “And where God takes me, he takes me,” Hodzic continued. “I figured that that way is the most stress-free, most enjoyable way to play the game instead of thinking, ‘I gotta put on a performance....

Burgason shines from downtown, Bison ready themselves for USC Upstate

by | Jan 23, 2012 | News Slider, Sports

Senior Jordan Burgason drained nine 3-pointers tying his own single-game record and posted a career-high 33 points Saturday afternoon as Lipscomb defeated ETSU 73-65 in Johnson City, Tenn. He also hit nine treys at Iowa State on Dec. 21 setting Lipscomb’s NCAA era record.  The Bison (10-10, 5-3 A-Sun) connected on a season high 15 three-pointers against ETSU (10-8, 5-3 A-Sun). In the last eight games, Burgason has hit an unfathomable 4.8 treys a game and is shooting 59.3 percent from beyond the arc. Lipscomb plays at USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C., Monday at 6 p.m. central.  USC Upstate is coming off a 79-78 win on a last second shot against Belmont Saturday. Monday’s game will be broadcast by the Lipscomb Sports Network presented by Jackson live on 102.1 The Light and LipscombSports.com beginning with the Lyons Chevrolet Buick GMC Countdown to Tipoff show at 5:45. Burgason’s bombs started at the top of the game as he made three treys in Lipscomb’s first five possessions.  Lipscomb led the whole first half and was up 39-30 at half. Lipscomb went cold after a 3-pointer by Burgason less than four minutes into the second half.  The Bison didn’t score in a span of 13 possessions over 7:31 and allowed ETSU to go on a 17-0 run to take a 51-44 lead. Freshman Martin Smith snapped the streak with a traditional three-point play at the 9:09 mark.  Two possessions later Smith nailed a three. Then Burgason took back over hitting three consecutive 3-pointers to give Lipscomb a 59-56 lead with 5:44 left. Martin finished with a career-high 17 points and four 3-pointers including a...

Smith’s game winner lifts Bison over Stetson in overtime

by | Jan 17, 2012 | News Slider, Sports

Lipscomb coach Scott Sanderson told his Bison in his postgame talk that the last play of the game went according to plan. He tried his best not to laugh. Everyone in the dressing room knew that freshman guard  Damarius Smith was the last option the way the play was designed…including Damarius. But that didn’t stop him from firing a 3-pointer with three seconds left in overtime to give the Bison a 104-103 Atlantic Sun win over Stetson at Allen Arena Monday night. “Stetson did a good job of taking away what we were trying to do on the play,” Sanderson said. “Damarius did a good of jumping up there and knocking it down. It was a big shot and we needed it. It was nothing but the bottom of the net.” Damarius scored on two points in regulation. With 39 seconds left in overtime he missed a pair of free throws with the score tied at 99-99. Damarius admitted those two missed free throws were not on his mind when he went for the game-winner. “When I was coming down the court I knew Stetson’s defenders were going to fight Jordan Burgason (the first choice for the shot) to the best of their abilities,” Damarius said. “I decided if they were going to double-team him and no one thought I was going to shoot that I was going to shoot it with confidence. “I had missed two tough free throws. I tried to erase that and keep going to the next play. But I believed in myself. I believe my team believes in me. This is a game of...

Bison fall to Florida Gulf Coast in overtime, move to 3-3 in Atlantic Sun

by | Jan 15, 2012 | News Slider, Sports

One of the primary concerns for the Lipscomb Bison this season has been the ability to rebound. The Bison spent the past week of practice placing an emphasis on board work. But Saturday night at Allen Arena the Bison were outrebounded 53-40 in an 84-80 loss in overtime to Atlantic Sun foe Florida Gulf Coast. The Bison slipped to 8-10 overall, 3-3 in the conference. Florida Gulf Coast is 8-9, 4-3 in the A-Sun. It was only the second win for Florida Gulf Coast on the road. Lipscomb coach Scott Sanderson thought that a lack of rebounding hurt the Bison in this game more than any other time this season. In the second half Florida Gulf Coast scored 24 points in the paint, 10 on second chances. “They hurt us on the backboards,” Sanderson said. “They took the shots we wanted them to take, but we just didn’t box out when we were playing a zone defense. It was our emphasis all week and we didn’t do it.” Marvin Williams led the Bison with eight rebounds, a season high. “We are small,” Sanderson said. “We had a hard time keeping them in front of us. That is why we went to the zone.” The Bison trailed 33-29 in the first half. With 9:17 left in the second half the Bison held a 13-point lead at 63-50. Florida Gulf Coast went on an 11-0 scoring run to pull within two points, 63-61, with 3:47 left in regulation. “I never thought we were in control of the game,” Sanderson said. “We are so inconsistent. We will have foolish and silly turnovers...

[Editorial] Mascot name change necessary, student says

by | Jan 14, 2012 | News Slider, Opinion, Sports

The first in a series, Lumination asks Lipscomb students what their thoughts are about the mascot change. This will be an ongoing series until the decision is made final. The following is written by senior American Studies major Grant Winter. We are Lipscomb.  This has been our university’s mantra ever since L. Randolph Lowry became president.  It is a phrase that could be heard every time he spoke, coupled with the latest statistics or rankings for a little school bragging rights.  While I soon grew tired of the continual usage, one thing about the phrase provided solace.  It did not include the name of our mascot, Bisons. Don’t get me wrong.  I have as much school spirit as the next.  There is nothing I enjoy more than heckling an opposing player to the point of frustration.  Yet, every time I hear “Bisons” in a cheer, I cringe. There is a reason that every time I type the word “Bisons,” a little red squiggly line appears underneath.  Our beloved mascot is a falsehood.  A fantasy.  It doesn’t exist.  It belongs only in an imaginary land with deers, gooses and mouses. I know there are many who are holding on for dear life to the consonant in question. There have been arguments of tradition.  I call it more of a bad habit. Some think that it will cost too much money to rebrand everything on campus.  Look around.  “Bisons” is not displayed many places.  It would seem the athletic department has long been ashamed of the name. Others say “Bison” sounds weird or that keeping the current spelling sets us apart. ...