High-scoring Bisons contribute to win over Tennessee Tech

Four Lipscomb Bisons scored in double digits in a 87-79 victory against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Allen Arena on Thursday night. Martin Smith, J.C. Hampton, Josh Williams and Malcolm Smith all broke the double-digit barrier. Junior forward Martin Smith led all scorers, putting up 24 points and going 12 for 14 from the free throw line. “I got to the free throw line, got my rhythm going and kept it going from there,” Martin Smith said. He credited his teammates on the evening’s accomplishments. J.C. Hampton had 19 points and was four for five from behind the arc. The redshirt freshman point guard said that that team wants to keep an up-tempo pace. “We want to play fast the whole game,” Hampton said. “We want to get out as quick as possible and get quick baskets. We practice hard to play fast.” Freshman guard Josh Williams had 20 points, a career-high for the new Bison. Malcolm Smith knocked down 11 points against the Golden Eagles and went four for five from the field. The win moved the Bisons to 4-4, while Tennessee Tech fell to 5-5. The game started out with a couple of fouls on each team, but the pace quickened, and with the fast pace, Lipscomb turned the ball over seven times in the first half, while Tennessee Tech had 11 turnovers. The turnovers lessened as the game went on, but Hampton says that team needs to be a little more careful with the ball. “[We need to] just slow it down a little bit, not being so passive and control the ball a little bit better,...

Lumination Newscast, November 21st, 2013

In the final Lumination Newscast of the 2013-2014 school year, Carter Sanderson and Kelly Dean are behind the news desk to update you about what is happening on campus and around the Nashville community. Whitney Jarreld fills you in on the week’s top world news headlines, Ariel Jones give the scoop on all things with Nashville entertainment, Joe Sanderson gives you the weather forecast and Monaih Sam brings you up to speed with sports. This week, we’ll show you the latest updates around campus, give you the latest updates on the Lighting of the Green and tell you how to stay in shape through the holiday season. We’ll also bring you highlights from the Lady Bisons game against Belmont, tell you what you may not know about the men’s cross country championship season and catch up with a Bison who is breaking her way into the music business. Be sure to stay tuned for future newscasts published every Friday here on...

Lady Bisons surge, yet fall short of comeback in loss to Murray State

It almost felt like two separate games for the Lady Bisons basketball team in their 86-79 loss at home to the Murray State Racers on Saturday. In the first half, sloppy play, fouls and turnovers were the story. Murray State had 13 fouls and 6 turnovers, while the Lady Bisons had 11 fouls and 7 turnovers in the first twenty minutes of action. In the second half, the Lady Bisons surged back from being down by 16 points at one point, and with the help of a Chandler Cooper three-point shot, Lipscomb tied the game at 56. However, the Racers pulled away in the closing minutes with the aid of free throws and missed Lipscomb shots to hold on for the victory. Head coach Greg Brown said that in the second half, the team did make improvements. “We did a better job of getting the ball inside, [getting] drives and cuts right there,” Brown said. “I thought we did a better job of executing that part of the game.” Junior Sara Bliss led the Lady Bisons in scoring with 22, 12 of those points from the arc. Redshirt sophomore Ashley Southern picked up a double-double for the game. She scored 20 points and led the team in rebounds with 15. “My teammates were just looking for me inside in the second half, sending me the ball. [It] helped a lot,” Southern said. “We played really well today. I thought, at the very end, we were playing well, but we should have been doing it the whole game.” Southern also said that the team was playing harder in the last...

Ashley Southern helps ignite passion within Lady Bisons basketball team

After sitting out of basketball for a season, Lipscomb redshirt sophomore Ashley Southern is back on the court and making a statement. Originally from Tuscumbia, Ala., Southern began playing recreation basketball at the age of 6 at the request of her best friend. “She begged me to play with her, so I played. Her dad was the coach,” Southern said. “I was terrible. I scored for the other team.” Southern has come a long way since those rec ball days. She played basketball and volleyball in high school and received many accolades including three-time All-State, All-County, All-Area and All-Region selections for basketball. Southern also scored 2,267 career points in high school. Southern received the Atlantic Sun Newcomer of the Week award earlier this season and is already a top scorer and rebounder for the Lady Bisons, with more than 50 points and 48 rebounds. Even so, Southern doesn’t like to talk about her individual achievements. “I’m not one of these people that really cares about personal awards,” Southern said. “Like, honestly, I just want us to win some games.” Southern is a redshirt sophomore because she transferred into Lipscomb from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last season, and, through NCAA rules, was required to sit out for the 2012-13 season. “When I got to Chattanooga it was just a whole different atmosphere than what I thought it was going to be, and I wasn’t happy,” Southern said. “Lipscomb recruited me out of high school, so I got in touch with Coach Bennett and decided to transfer here.” Former Lady Bison head coach Frank Bennett originally recruited Southern to...
Bisons unable to top Belmont in second ‘Battle’ of Alexander era

Bisons unable to top Belmont in second ‘Battle’ of Alexander era

By Logan Butts and Aaron Schmelzer  In round two of the 2013 Battle of the Boulevard, the Belmont Bruins topped the visiting Bisons, winning 94-64. The game started with an 8-0 run by Belmont, and Talbott Denny scored the first points for the Bisons with a three. With 14:37 left in the first half, the lead was in favor of the Bruins, 15-6. By halftime, their lead had increased to 47-26. A steal and breakaway layup from the Bruins’ J.J. Mann gave Belmont the momentum heading into the the half. Malcolm Smith opened the second half with six consecutive points for the Bisons. However, any momentum gained from Smith’s run was erased with a two-handed slam from the Bruins’ Craig Bradshaw to make the score 58-34. Belmont would later seal its second ‘Battle’ win of the season. “They were a significantly better team than they were the first time that we played,” Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander said. The down-the-street rivals last played Nov. 8, a game that Belmont won, 87-83. “Belmont’s such a rhythm team, and when things are going their way, they’re literally about as good as anybody,” Alexander said. The loss for the Bisons dropped their record to 2-3 on the season. Malcolm Smith stepped up for the Bisons, nearly posting a double-double with 14 points and eight rebounds. J.C. Hampton paced the Bisons, scoring the most points on the night with 16. “J.C.’s a good player, and he’s going to be a good player,” Alexander said of the redshirt freshman point guard. Evan Bradds was the leading scorer and rebounder for Belmont with 19 and...