The Lipscomb men’s basketball team lost 85-64 to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs Sunday afternoon at Allen Arena in Nashville.
Lipscomb loses for the second straight time and drops to 5-4 with the loss, while Chattanooga improves to 7-1.
Despite the loss, redshirt freshman forward Jacob Ognacevic continued to pour in points, producing a 23-point outing against the Mocs. Ognacevic, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, made nine baskets from the floor on the evening and was just one of two players in double figures for Lipscomb.
Sophomore guard Greg Jones was the other Bison to finish with over 10 points, racking up 12 on just two field goals.
The game started poorly for the home team and only got worse, as Chattanooga dominated early and late on, finding a way to sneak by in the start of the second half as Lipscomb began to make a run.
The Bisons cut a 36-16 halftime deficit to a 4-point game just five minutes into the second half, but they were unable to hold on as they were once again torched at the 3-point line. After giving up 94 points to Belmont and allowing 41 3-point attempts, they allowed 12-25 shooting from behind the arc this afternoon.
On the other side of the ball, a 38.8% mark from the field is Lipscomb’s worst shooting percentage this season. The Mocs defense rose to the challenge Lipscomb provided and kept the Bisons away from the basket in their home gym.
Lipscomb did earn 29 trips to the free throw line, converting on 22 of them.
Head coach Lennie Acuff and his Bisons are still without star center Ahsan Asadullah. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, the North Clayton High School graduate and ASUN Preseason 1st-Team selection suffered an injury November 23 against Tennessee Tech and has not returned since.
Next up for the Bisons is a long-standing and historical task against Tennessee State 4 pm Sunday. That match will be streamed live on The Bison, Lipscomb’s on-campus radio station.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics