by Parker Bell | Mar 9, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Bisons basketball team has won eight straight games. And now are ASUN champions headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Behind the 108 – 96 win on Sunday against Florida Gulf Coast was the steady hand of point guard Kenny Cooper. He led the team with one of his best games this season. Cooper has had to fill an unexpected role this season. Point guard Nathan Moran was not able to play this season due to an offseason surgery. The sophomore stepped into the place of a senior. “My role on the team doubled almost becoming the starting point guard,” Cooper said. “I took that as a challenge to step into the leadership role that he did.” This season, Cooper had the second most steals in the league with 63, only five behind the ASUN conference player of the year Zach Johnson of FGCU. He also led the Bisons in assists with 119 assists averaging four a game. Even without playing this season, Moran has played a role for Cooper, too. “As a point guard, the expectations for you are high,” said Cooper on the role. “You have to know what’s going on more than anyone else on the court. Nate’s been great helping me form into that role. He’s been helping me lead a team on and off the court.” Cooper said he’s also learned some things on his own through this experience as a leader. “The best way to lead is through your actions, and you have to have good communications. If you’re not the one out there every day...
by Cole Gray | Mar 8, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Eight hundred and thirty-seven miles. Thirteen hours. Nineteen students. A 32-point lead. A 27-point comeback. One berth in the NCAA Tournament. This is the story of the group that watched Lipscomb cut down the nets for the first time—in their own words. Josh Roberts, Dean of Student Development: Late Thursday night, when we won the semifinal game, there was a tremendous amount of discussions between the President’s Office, Athletics and Student Life, trying to find ways to have a Bison presence at the game. Garret Jones, junior RA: Garner Goode and I talked about doing something like this in the fall. Specifically, because I am in Res. Life, and I was like ‘How can we get Res. Life and the student body, through Res. Life, more integrated with our student athletes?’ And so, ultimately this was one of those ways. Roberts: It all happened fast but was also very well planned. We were up in the early morning hours of Friday morning discussing and trying to debate what route we should take. Luke Shoulders, sophomore: Garret and I were talking for a while. He honestly convinced me to go to the game, because if we’re going to be honest I was worried about missing Singarama practice and couple’s dance, because I really wanted to do it this year. Lorne Jaques, senior: I’m a senior and my thinking was, not only is this potentially the last basketball game I’ll ever go to as a college student, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Shoulders: I really needed a break, and what better way to get a break than...
by Spencer Boehme | Mar 8, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
You might recognize Jonathan Seamon as one of the ESPN3 reporters who sits on press row during Lipscomb men’s home basketball games. But the talented broadcaster’s history with the NCAA tournament-bound Bisons extends beyond his play-by-play work. If you head a little ways south of campus, you’ll find Brentwood Hills Church of Christ. Within one of the administrative offices sits the Executive Minister, Seamon himself. The former Lipscomb student and sports administrator’s office is decorated with posters, photographs, bobbleheads, basketballs, baseballs, mugs and everything in between. The common theme with most of his relics is the purple and gold. His current church position is an offspring of his Lipscomb tenure. “I was thinking about going into adult education,” Seamon said, “and I was attending Brentwood Hills already, and they wanted me to teach a college class. “So when I told them my interest, they came back and said, ‘Well, would you consider doing part-time youth work?’ So I spent several years as a youth minister, and then that kind of grew into a family minister and then later into administrative.” Seamon, a Mocksville, North Carolina-native, made his college decision back during the 1970s, thanks to his closest friend from childhood. “We were part of Church of Christ,” Seamon said, “and my brother had gone to Lipscomb.” Seamon primarily studied public administration, as well as government and minored in speech. He also held governor and presidential positions in different clubs at different times. But the sports world could only wait for him for so long. “I did coverage for the Babbler, the paper, at the time, and also doing public address...
by Tyler Harvey | Mar 8, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Bisons women’s basketball team was eliminated in the ASUN quarterfinals by the top-seeded Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 105-55 in Fort Myers, Fla. Wednesday evening. The Lady Bisons knew the challenges coming into the game; FCGU was the number 1 seed in the tournament and had defeated Lipscomb by double digits in both regular season matchups. But Lipscomb was able to start off hot, mounting a 6-0 lead to start off the game. Unfortunately, the Lady Bisons weren’t able to hold on it. When the Lady Eagles were finally able to score their first points four minutes into the first quarter, they didn’t let up. They went on a 22-4 run to end the first quarter. Unfortunately, FCGU continued to beat up on the Bisons in the second quarter, thanks in large part to the Eagles hitting seven of nine three-point attempts in the quarter. At the half the Bison were down 47-22. Eagles star player China Dow had an extremely good half, leading the team with 19 points going onto the locker room. The Bison’s star player and ASUN Player of the Year Loren Cagle struggled in the first half with only four points. In the second half the Eagles continued their hot streak and never looked back. By the end of the game the Lady Bison’s field goal percentage was only at 30%, and they gave up 11 turnovers. Cagle was held scoreless in the second half, though she led the team in rebounds with eight and assists with six. Dow made eight of ten three-point attempts and totaled 30 points. Emily Kmec led the Bisons with...
by Russell Vannozzi | Mar 7, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion, Sports
FORT MYERS, Fla. – On March 4, 2006, the Belmont basketball team topped Lipscomb in the ASUN championship game, using a three-point play from Justin Hare and a strong overtime performance to squeak out a 74-69 victory. Exactly 12 years later, the Lipscomb basketball team was back in the title game, and it wasn’t going to be denied this time around. The Bisons used a 60-point first half to build a sizable lead, only to have to hold on for a 108-96 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday at Alico Arena. The difference the second time around? Head coach Casey Alexander, who was an assistant at Belmont when the Bruins advanced to their first NCAA tournament by sending the Bisons packing in 2006. The Belmont ties to the Lipscomb coaching staff (also including assistants Roger Idstrom and Steve Drabyn) have been well documented when the Battle of the Boulevard rolls around each year. In fact, the Belmont-Lipscomb games generally bring boatloads of media attention to both schools. What hasn’t been as well-documented? The Lipscomb basketball team when they aren’t playing Belmont. One glance at press row during a typical ASUN conference game yields two broadcasters, a Lumination Network staffer and occasionally a member of the local Nashville media. Since that fateful day in 2006, Belmont and Lipscomb went in opposite directions. The Bruins qualified for six additional NCAA tournaments while the Bisons watched on television. In turn, Belmont has largely overshadowed Lipscomb on the court over the last decade. That changed this season. Behind a pair of Battle of the Boulevard victories, the 2017-18 edition of the Lipscomb basketball team appeared...
by Mason Thomas | Mar 6, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
All eyes were on Casey Alexander and the Lipscomb University men’s basketball team at today’s Gathering. The standard Gathering didn’t take place today, as today’s meeting served more as a pep rally than an occasional Tuesday chapel. The 2018 ASUN men’s basketball champion’s celebration began with an address from Lipscomb’s athletic director Philip Hutcheson. He brought to perspective the success of both men and women’s basketball this year and Lipscomb’s young history as a Division 1 athletic program. “We are really just a teenager in terms of a program in NCAA competition,” Hutcheson said. “Yet in that time, well, just look up around the banners surrounding you.” He went on to explain the success of Lipscomb sports since its 2003 NCAA Tournament eligibility. Afterwards, Hutcheson invited men’s head basketball coach Casey Alexander to the stage. Coach Alexander proudly walked on stage with the 2018 ASUN basketball trophy in-hand. “This hardware and this net,” said Alexander, “is just a visual understanding to provide you with exactly where we are.” The coach heavily stressed that the championship represents more than just the basketball team; it represents Lipscomb as a whole. He then welcomed President Lowry on stage to share another perspective on this athletic landmark in Lipscomb’s history. Lowry recollected coach Alexander’s hiring, and performed a mini-interview with the basketball team’s leader. “You took the program and have done a great job with it.” Lowry stated. Student representatives of Lipscomb then came on stage and accepted the ASUN trophy. A video highlighting this past Sunday’s game played as the team came on stage. “I brought them up here so they could...
