Bisons Use Rebounding And Free Throw Advantage To Pick Up Victory Over Flames

The Bisons used a dominating performance on the boards and at the free throw line to pick up a 78-62 non-conference victory over Liberty, Saturday afternoon, at Allen Arena.

The contest remained close over most of the first half as neither team held more than a three-point lead over the first 10 minutes of the game, while the contest was tied on six different occasions.

Liberty (2-5) opened up the largest lead of the first 10 minutes, 18-15, on a three-pointer by Evan Risher (So., G, Fort Worth, Texas) at the 10:35 mark of the first half. However, Lipscomb (4-3) scored eight unanswered points and took a five-point advantage as Shaun Durant connected on 1-of-2 free throws, giving the Bisons a 23-18 lead just two minutes later.

The Flames were able to trim the lead back to three points on two different occasions during the remainder of the first period, including on a lay-up by Rell Porter (So., F, Pittsburg, Texas) at the 2:06 mark to cut the lead to 35-32, but Lipscomb scored seven of the final nine points of the half to take a 42-34 lead at the intermission.

The Bisons quickly extended their lead in the opening minutes of the second half as a lay-up by Cameron Robinson pushed Lipscomb's advantage to 14 points, 52-38, with 15:39 left to play in the contest.

The margin remained the same over the next several minutes until Liberty cut the lead to 10 points, 61-51, on a three-pointer by Larry Blair (Jr., G, Charlotte, N.C.) at the 9:39 mark, but that would be as close as Liberty could get over the rest of the game as the Bisons used the free throw line down the stretch to seal the victory.

Lipscomb dominated the Flames on the boards as the Bisons finished the game with a 20 rebound advantage over Liberty, 42-22. Lipscomb shot 73.5 percent from the line as they were 25-of-34 from the charity stripe, while Liberty was limited to just eight trips to the line and was 4-of-8 from the stripe for the game.

The Bisons' five starters scored 73 of the teams' 78 points with all five starters in double figures as Eddie Ard led the team with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor with eight rebounds, while Durant (14 points and 12 rebounds) and Robinson (10 points and 10 rebounds) finished the game with double-doubles.

Liberty was paced by Blair for the seventh-straight game as the junior netted 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field, while Porter followed with nine points and a team-best six rebounds.

The Flames will take the next week off for exams before traveling to San Juan, Puerto Rico to participate in the San Juan Shootout. Liberty will open the three-day tournament against Mississippi State on December 19 followed games on December 20 and 21 at the prestigious tournament.