Lipscomb used a late second half run to take the Memphis Tigers down to the wire in an 85-75 loss Monday at the FedExForum.
Down 14 with eight minutes to play, Lipscomb (6-7) utilized a 13-2 run accented by a three by freshman Martin Smith to bring the game within three, 73-70, with 4:45 remaining.
After the teams exchanged free throws, Memphis’ (6-4) Chris Crawford hit a jumper in the paint and a turnover by Martin led to a three by Will Barton in the left corner to give the Tigers a 79-71 lead with 1:40 remaining.
“I thought we competed for the whole game tonight,” said head coach Scott Sanderson. “I thought we did a nice job in executing the scouting report and what we were trying to do both offensively and defensively.”
Barton’s basket was three of only seven points Memphis scored off of Lipscomb’s season-low five turnovers. It was the lowest turnover tally for the Bison since committing five miscues against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 16, 2007.
“I thought we did a much better job taking care of the basketball and I felt like that is what kept us in the game with just five turnovers,” Sanderson said.
Senior Jordan Burgason and junior Deonte Alexander led Lipscomb with 16 points each. Both hit four 3-pointers.
The Bison were unable to control the hot shooting of the Tigers. Memphis connected on 63.3 percent of its attempts in the first period and 56.9 percent for the game. The Tigers scored 44 points in the paint.
A three by junior Jacob Arnett and a putback attempt at the buzzer by senior Justin Glenn cut Memphis’ lead in half sending the Tigers into the locker room at halftime up 45-40.
Memphis led 39-27 in rebounding but the Bison utilized 13 offensive rebounds to score 21 second chance points.
The Bison shot 44.4 percent from the field and hit ten 3-pointers. Lipscomb was 9-of-16 from the free throw line for 56.3 percent.
Lipscomb missed three of its final four attempts from the line including the front end of a bonus opportunity.
“We missed some free throws down the stretch,” said Sanderson. “When you’re on the road and you miss free throws a one or two point game becomes a six or seven point game.
Adonis Thomas led six Tigers in double figures with 18 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Lipscomb travels to Burgason’s hometown of Ames, Iowa, to play Iowa State Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The Lipscomb Sports Network presented by Jackson will carry the game on 102.5 The Game.
Story taken with permission from LipscombSports.com