The Lipscomb men’s basketball team fell to conference rival Florida Gulf Coast Thursday night in Allen Arena after losing an 18-point second half lead.
Coming into the game, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles had an undefeated conference record winning all three of its conference games so far. The Eagles also had a five-game winning streak going into Thursday night. However the Bisons came into the game on a bit of cold streak having lost three of their last five games.
Despite this, Lipscomb Head Coach Casey Alexander said the game would not be a problem for the Bisons.
“We shouldn’t have a problem keeping the intensity up,” Alexander said. “This is a big game.”
The Eagles started off the game strong by making four of their first four shots to take the lead 8-2. However, Lipscomb didn’t let FGCU extend the lead any further at that point.
The Bisons stormed right back and tied the game at 13-all two minutes later. The lead went back and forth until Lipscomb junior Garrison Mathews was able to spark the team late in the first half. Mathews, who is having a standout season, made a three-point shot to break the tie and put the Bisons up 41-38 with 2:14 left in the first half. That shot sparked the Bisons, and they went on a 13-2 run to end the first half. At halftime, the Bisons led 48-40.
While the Bisons were able to extend their lead by halftime, the men still had a lot to work for the next half as went into the locker room. Florida Gulf Coast’s field goal percentage was an astonishing 66% in the first half.
“Their field goal percentage is incredible,” Alexander said at the half. The coach added that he liked how his team was able to get some turnovers before the half and slow down the Eagle’s aggressiveness.
Coming back out to start the second half, the Bisons were able to continue to increase their lead. They stretched their largest lead of the game to 18, leading 66-48 with 13:31 left to go in the game.
However midway through the second half, Florida Gulf Coast was able to go on a devastating 13-0 run that tied the game up at 68 points-all with seven minutes left in the game. After that the Eagles were able to gain control of the lead and not give it back the rest of the game, winning 88-83.
Lipscomb will continue its in-conference schedule Saturday, facing Stetson inside Allen Arena at 4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics