Joe Anderson's 23 points lead Lipscomb to a 76-65 win over North Alabama to claim ASUN title
ASUN North Alabama Lipscomb Basketball Lipscomb team members pose with a tournament bracket after winning the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game against North Alabama, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP)
ByBy The Associated Press
NASHVILLE — NASHVILLE (AP) — Joe Anderson scored 12 of his team-high 23 points in the final four minutes to help power top-seeded Lipscomb to a 76-65 win over North Alabama on Sunday to win the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championship and claim an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
The Bisons (25-9) finished tied with North Alabama (24-10) for the regular season championship with 14 wins and were the No. 1 tournament seed. Lipscomb needed overtime to get past sixth-seeded Queens in the semifinals The Lions were seeded second and beat fourth-seeded Jacksonville to reach the final.
Jacari Lane’s jumper gave North Alabama the lead with 11:46 left and Donte Bacchus converted a three-point play for a 53-49 advantage. Jacob Ognacevic hit three of four free throws and Will Pruitt hit from 3 for a 55-53 lead and Gyasi Powell hit a 3 with 4:13 left to put Lipscomb in front for good.
Anderson hit from deep to make it 65-60 and Anderson hit from 3 in a 7-0 run to take a 10-point lead with 1:34 left and converted 3 of 4 from the line in the final minute.
Anderson was 6 of 9 from the field, including 4 of 7 from deep, and hit 7 of 8 from the line with four assists, two steals and three blocked shots to lead Lipscomb. Pruitt was a perfect 10-for-10 from the line and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Powell hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range to add 16 points and Ognacevic had 14 points with nine rebounds.
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Lane finished with 18 points and Corneilous Williams scored 15 points with seven rebounds to lead North Alabama. Will Soucie had 10 points with six boards and Taye Fields pulled down 12 rebounds to go with his six points.
Lipscomb guard Will Pruitt (2) gets a hug from his mother Angie Pruitt as they celebrate the team's win in the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game against North Alabama, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP) Lipscomb guard Kellan Boylan (23) holds the trophy as he celebrates with guard Logan Suber (11) and other teammates after winning the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game against North Alabama, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP) Lipscomb guard Will Pruitt is hugged by forward Rylan Houck (1) after winning the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game against North Alabama, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP) Lipscomb guard Logan Suber (11) holds the trophy as he celebrates with guard Miles White (5) and other teammates after winning the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game against North Alabama, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP) Lipscomb center Charlie Williams goes to the floor on the sideline while scrambling for the ball against North Alabama during the first half of the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP) North Alabama guard Jacari Lane (5) reacts after scoring against Lipscomb during the first half of the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP) Lipscomb student Valerie Suddarth wears a bison hat while watching the first half of the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game against North Alabama, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP) North Alabama guard Will Soucie (0) reacts after scoring against Lipscomb during the first half of the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP) Lipscomb forward Jacob Ognacevic (41) is fouled by North Alabama forward Donte Bacchus, right, during the first half of the Atlantic Sun Conference championship NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis/AP)
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