Tonight marks the first postseason game for the Lipscomb Bisons after they clinched the No. 1 seed on Senior Night with a 78-60 home win over Central Arkansas, closing the regular season on a three-game winning streak.
Thanks to their KNIT ranking of 125 or better, the Bisons are guaranteed a spot in the NIT, which would mark their first appearance since 2019. However, their ultimate goal is to return to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Lipscomb’s quarterfinal matchup against Central Arkansas this evening.
How they got here: After opening the season with tough matchups against SEC opponents Arkansas and Kentucky, the Bisons used those experiences to prepare for the always-challenging ASUN Conference slate. They picked up a marquee non-conference win over Chattanooga, the No. 1 seed in the Southern Conference, and won their first two ASUN games before falling to Queens at home. Ultimately, they would lose three more conference matchups — one to North Alabama and two to Eastern Kentucky — but still secured home-court advantage for the conference tournament.
Much like in past seasons, injuries have been a challenge. Dylan Faulkner, a key piece in the frontcourt, suffered a season-ending foot injury against West Georgia.
Even so, the Bisons continue to battle and will look to win three straight games to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Key Players
- Jacob Ognacevic (20.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 41.3% 3-pt)
- Will Pruitt (13.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 46.5% FG)
- Gyasi Powell (11.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 37.4% 3-pt)
- Joe Anderson (11.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 37.4% 3-pt, 2.2 spg)
Other Contributors
- Charlie Williams (5.5 ppg, 45% FG, 33.7% 3-pt)
- Miles White (3.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 33.3% 3-pt)
- Grant Asman (3.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 44% FG)
Why they will make the NCAA Tournament: Lipscomb excels defensively, ranking in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense. They also take care of the ball, ranking in the top 20 for fewest turnovers per game, and are one of the nation’s best free-throw shooting teams. Combining those strengths with a veteran core of Ognacevic, Pruitt, and Anderson, the Bisons have a prime opportunity to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
Why they won’t make the NCAA Tournament: The Bisons have been Jekyll and Hyde regarding their offense outings this season. At their best, they put together near-flawless performances, such as their game against Austin Peay, where they shot 60.4% from the field, 64.3% from three, and 95% from the free-throw line. At their worst, they struggled mightily, as seen in a game against Eastern Kentucky, where they shot just 28.3% overall and 17.2% from deep.
Adding to their challenges, Lipscomb lost its most valuable frontcourt presence in Faulkner, and a lack of depth could pose problems in the postseason.
