by Cory Woodroof | Mar 3, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
Looking to build on Thursday night’s win over the University of Jacksonville, the men’s basketball team turned in a valiant effort at home Saturday night against the University of North Florida Ospreys (13-18, 8-10 in conference), but effort wasn’t enough to take the win. The team fell to the visitors 85-78 in a game that solidified the Bisons’ bracket seating for the Atlantic-Sun tournament. After a strong start by Lipscomb (leading by six at 14:55), North Florida fought their way back to make it a close first half. That is, until the last three minutes, where the Bisons went on a run, widening the margin to seven at the half. The second half saw more strong play from Lipscomb, holding a 10-point lead with a little more than 10 remaining. Unfortunately, the Ospreys once again chipped away at the lead, eventually taking the top score at 3:30. After this, the game became a back-and-forth of jumpers, layups and free-throws, with the Ospreys hitting key shots at moments, and the Bisons missing when it counted. North Florida walked away from Allen Arena with the win. The Bisons end their regular season 12-17 (7-11 in the A-Sun). Senior Deonte Alexander, who was honored at half court before the game for Senior Night, led the Bisons in scoring with 19, while redshirt sophomore Carter Sanderson added in 16 points. Junior Khion Sankey led the team in rebounds with nine and had 12 points on the night. Sankey said he felt that the team’s shooting percentage in the second half was a cause for trouble. “I feel like we played hard. They just made...
by Bridgette Begle | Jan 27, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
On Saturday, Jan. 26, in Allen Arena, the Lady Bisons basketball team played a game to improve their record in conference play. They also held an event to honor women’s basketball legend Pat Summitt. Pat Summitt was the head coach of the Lady Vols of the University of Tennessee for 38 years and is the overall winningest NCAA coach of men’s or women’s basketball on all levels. Last week (Jan. 13-20) marked the second “We Back Pat” week. Throughout the SEC, every women’s basketball team has played one home game that is dedicated to raising awareness and recognition for the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund. This foundation was founded on Nov. 27, 2011, launched by Summitt after she was diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type at the age of 59. The funds raised are sent to nonprofits that provide support to those suffering from Alzheimer’s. The overall mission is to advance research for preventing and a cure. Senior basketball player Hannah Phillips said that Pat Summitt was a childhood inspiration of hers. “Pat Summitt was my idol growing up,” Phillips said, “I wanted to be a Lady Vol.” Attendance to this event was crucial for raising the necessary funds. According to freshman Alex Banks, each women’s basketball player penned hand-written letters to alumni inviting them to come to the game. She also mentioned utilizing social media sites as a promotion tool. The final tally of those in attendance was 1,434. The shirts that were given out at the game to the first 300 fans are ones that look very familiar around the SEC. Colors and logos change from school...
by Cory Woodroof | Jan 27, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
After Thursday night’s nail-biter against Kennesaw State, the men’s basketball team served up another to-the-buzzer contest, but this time, last-minute heroics couldn’t save the day. The Bisons (now 8-12) put up quite a fight against Mercer, but unfortunately, the visiting Bears (13-9) claimed victory by game’s end. After a quick start (Mercer opened with a three in the first 10 seconds), the Bisons gained an early lead on the Bears, but as time progressed, the game became an level playing field, with a three-pointer courtesy of senior Deonte Alexander sending both teams to a 23-23 ballgame at the half. In the second, the Bears became the dominant team on the court, looking at a 61-46 lead over the Bisons with 7:27 remaining. Despite the looming margin, the Bisons weren’t about to let this one go. In the six-or-so minutes to follow, key Bison shots were made, key Bear shots were missed and Lipscomb rallied back to a 7-point margin with just about a minute left in play. A crucial 4-point play by Alexander shrunk the Bear’s lead to three with 41 seconds left, but despite the Bisons’ strong showing in the game’s final minutes, Mercer escaped with the win. Alexander had a strong night, leading the Bisons in scoring with 20. Junior Khion Sankey led the team in rebounding with 12, and sophomore Malcom Smith added in 16 points. Alexander said that he’s always looking to the next play in a close game’s final minutes, also concentrating on his defensive role. “I’m just trying my best to not let my man score,” Alexander said. Alexander said he feels that good focus on the scouting reports...
