Lipscomb withstood a late surge from FGCU Wednesday night in Fort Myers to come away with a 73-64 victory. Jacob Ognacevic led the way with 21 points on the night while four total Bisons scored in double figures.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game got off to a disjointed start, with neither team finding much offense.
After FGCU scored the first bucket on the opening possession, Lipscomb scored nine unanswered. Back-to-back triples from AJ McGinnis and Will Pruitt forced an FGCU timeout at the 15:12 mark with a 9-2 Lipscomb lead. Out of the timeout, FGCU got a bucket, but Ognacevic answered with a triple on the offensive end for a 12-4 advantage. FGCU started to creep back in with a 4-0 run, but Lipscomb didn't allow the Eagles to keep momentum.
Just before the under-eight media timeout, Lipscomb extended its lead when Matt Schner nailed a triple from the top of the key for a 21-13 lead with just under eight to play in the half. The Bisons stayed hot from behind the arc when Trae Benham connected on Lipscomb's fifth of the night from range to further extend the lead 24-13.
Lipscomb's defense continued to cause problems for the Eagles, keeping FGCU shooting at a 26-percent clip at the under-four media timeout of the first half. The Bisons held a 30-18 lead with 3:10 left in the first frame.
After a two-and-a-half minute scoring drought, Ognacevic got Lipscomb back on the board with a layup for a 32-18 lead with just under two minutes in the half.
Just before the half, Derrin Boyd drove the basket and drew a foul. After connecting on one of his free throws, Lipscomb kept FGCU off the board for the final 1.6 seconds and took a 33-21 lead into the halftime break. The Bisons held FGCU to just 23-percent scoring and nine field goals in the first half.
Lipscomb scored the first five points of the second half with a quick triple from Derrin Boyd and a bucket from Ognacevic for a 38-21 lead.
The Bisons scored 10-unanswered to start the second half to run out to a 43-21 lead before North Florida got on the board with a long two-pointer. FGCU started to creep back in and quickly quieted Lipscomb when it picked up a full court press and forced a few turnovers. What was a 20-point Lipscomb lead, quickly turned into a nine-point lead after an 11-0 run by the Eagles. After head coach Lennie Acuff called a timeout, Quincy Clark got a much-needed bucket for the Bisons to snap the FGCU run and get the Bisons back out to double-digits.
FGCU continued to push the pace and fired up the crowd. The Eagles got within five points, 50-45, before Ahsan Asadullah got Lipscomb back on the board. FGCU, however, answered with a triple on the other end to shave Lipscomb's lead 52-48.
The Eagles pulled within a point with just under eight on the clock, 54-53, but Lipscomb got back out to a 60-53 lead with three-straight buckets from Ognacevic to force an Eagles timeout.
The squads continued to trade blows down the stretch, but the Bisons continued to hold a 62-58 lead at under-four media timeout (3:42) of the second half. FGCU tied the game at 62 with a pair of free throws with 2:46 remaining. Boyd, however, answered by converting an and one opportunity on the other end to push the Bisons back in front.
Lipscomb allowed only two points from the Eagles over the next two minutes and ran its offense successfully to retake control with a 73-64 lead with 24 seconds left on the clock.
Lipscomb was able to get the final stop and pull out a crucial 73-64 road victory on Wednesday night at FGCU.
HERD NOTES
- Ognacevic led the way with 21 points. Boyd, McGinnis and Asadullah also scored in double-figures.
- Asadullah had a team-high nine rebounds on the night.
- The Bisons shot 48% to FGCU's 34%. Lipscomb was 35% from behind the arc.
- Lipscomb won the rebounding battle 47-32.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will travel to DeLand, Fla. to take on Stetson on Friday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.
