Bisons headed to Davidson for NIT Tuesday
For the second year in a row, Lipscomb men’s basketball is back in postseason play.
Kirk Downs |
Senior Rob Marberry and the Bisons are headed to the NIT for the second time in university history.
The Bisons earned an NIT bid as a No. 5 seed and will visit No. 4 Davidson at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday in a game to be aired on ESPN3.
The winner will move on to face either UNCG or former ASUN member Campbell. Second-round games will be held on campus sites from March 21-25.
Tickets can be purchased HERE. All ticket sales for this game will be general admission only. Prices are $12 for Adult GA and $6 for Youth GA.
"Our team is excited about playing," Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander said. "Obviously there is a lot of disappointment that goes with not playing in the NCAA Tournament after the year that we had, but we are still one of the last teams playing.
"The NIT is a prestigious tournament with a lot of really good teams, so I am glad we are still together with games to play."
Senior Garrison Mathews
It will be the second-ever appearance for Lipscomb in the NIT after having previously participated in 2006 where it lost 85-66 to UTEP in El Paso, Texas.
The Bisons enter the postseason 25-7 overall after claiming a share of the ASUN Conference regular season title. They played seven games against teams that made the 2019 NCAA Tournament field, and another two games against teams on the NIT bracket.
Alexander’s squad is led by senior Garrison Mathews, who was named the ASUN Player of the Year. Mathews paced the league in scoring for a second-straight year at 20.1 PPG to go along with 5.1 RPG and 98 total three-pointers.
Davidson enters the tournament 23-9 overall and will be hosting its first-ever NIT game. The Wildcats finished second in the A-10 Conference behind only VCU after finishing 14-4. Their conferment tournament came to an end Saturday after falling 67-44 to No. 6 Saint Louis.
"We have great respect for Davidson and what they have done," Alexander said. "It is a program that Lipscomb wants to emulate. They've done it the right way in both the SoCon and the A10. They are extremely well coached and efficient on both ends of the floor.
"It will be a challenge, but it's a game that I am excited personal for, because I have so much respect for them."
Senior Eli Pepper
Jon Axel Gundmundsson was named the A10 Player of the Year after leading the team in scoring (17.2), rebounding (7.3) and assists (4.7).
Kellan Grady (16.8), Luka Brajkovic (10.9) and Luke Frampton (10.1) are the other Wildcats averaging double figures.
The No. 5 seed is the highest an ASUN Conference team has ever earned in the NIT after adopting seeds in 2007.
"It's an atypical schedule," Alexander said. "We are here practicing at 10 p.m. after cramming in some scouting, so that part is unusual.
"The bigger question for me is how are we going to play after being off for 10 days? Davidson just finished up yesterday and are trying to figure out how they can bounce back quickly and be ready to play. That will be an interesting scenario for this game."
DAVIDSON NOTES
Head coach Bob McKillop is in his 30th season leading the Wildcats
John M. Belk Arena has a capacity of 5,295
Davidson is 3-7 all-time in the NIT
It’s last NIT appearance came in 2016 with an 84-74 loss at Florida State
The Wildcats currently have a NET Ranking of 75. Lipscomb is 49.
— Photos by Kristi Jones