North Carolina Takes On Lipscomb In The First Round Of The NCAA Tournament

North Carolina who is the second seed and out of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the West Region will take on Lipscomb who is the fifteenth seed in the West Region Friday.

North Carolina comes into the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a record of 25 -10 while according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/153/ haven lost in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Championship to top ranked Virginia on Saturday night at the Barclays Center. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

Kyle Guy, Devon Hall and No. 1 Virginia completed one of the most successful seasons in the storied history of Atlantic Coast Conference basketball, beating No. 12 North Carolina 71-63 in the tournament championship game Saturday night to finish 20-1 against league competition. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

The top-seeded Cavaliers (31-2) set a school record for victories and won the ACC Tournament for the second time in five seasons under coach Tony Bennett, and third time overall. With plenty of their fans packing Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Cavaliers beat sixth-seeded North Carolina (25-10) for the second time this season and snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Tar Heels in ACC Tournament play. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

Guy, the tournament MVP, scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half and Hall added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. Ty Jerome had 12 points, six assists and six rebounds for Virginia, which will certainly enter the NCAA Tournament as the top overall seed."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

Not bad for a bunch that started the season unranked and was picked to finish sixth in the ACC."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

Virginia held the Tar Heels scoreless for five minutes and took a 58-49 lead on De'Andre Hunter's baseline fadeaway with 3:32 left. North Carolina snapped the drought with a 3-pointer by Luke Maye, who scored 20, but Jerome nailed a 3 out of a timeout to restore the nine-point lead. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

UNC, playing in its record 35th ACC championship game, never got closer than five again as Virginia closed it out from the free throw line. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

BIG PICTURE

North Carolina: UNC won three games in four days in Brooklyn and might have played its way into a high enough seed — probably a No. 2 — to open the NCAAs in Charlotte. The Tar Heels are 33-1 in NCAA games played in their home state. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

Virginia: In nine seasons in Charlottesville, Bennett has built one of the most successful programs in the country on a foundation of slow-paced but precise offense and sound and suffocating defense. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

BYE BROOKLYN

The ACC Tournament heads back to North Carolina after a two-year stint in New York City, but expect it to be back sooner than later. Maybe even as soon as 2022, when the arena is free and the ACC has no plans booked. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/3/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-fall-to-uva-in-acc-final.aspx?path=mbball

Lipscomb meanwhile who is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference comes into the NCAA Tournament with a record of 23-9 "according tohttp://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/schedule/  and is  coming off a win over Florida Gulf Coast in the Atlantic Sun Championship. 

For the first time in program history, the Lipscomb men’s basketball team is going dancing as the Bisons secured their automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament with a 108-96 win over FGCU in an instant-classic ASUN Championship final. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

“It’s a great win for Lipscomb,” head coach Casey Alexander said. “There are tons of former coaches and players, students and fans back home celebrating this win. That’s what we are here for. What an unbelievable moment."according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

“I am just so happy for our staff, our players and our program. We are living history. What a moment.” "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

The win moved the Bisons to 23-9 on the season. They have won eight straight games and 12 of their last 13. The victory represented the third-straight over the Eagles at Alico Arena. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

Lipscomb started out the game on fire, hitting 15 of its first 18 shots from the floor. The Bisons charge was led by none other than unanimous ASUN First Team All-Conference member and tournament MVP, Garrison Mathews."according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

The junior guard scored the first eight points of the game for Lipscomb and continued to be a thorn in the Eagles side all afternoon. He finished with a team-high 33 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-14 from behind the three-point line. It was the fourth game this season of 30 or more points for Mathews. He also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds."according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

 “Although this was a championship game, it was still just a game, the same game we’ve been playing all year long,” Mathews said. “It was huge for us to keep our composure after the first couple of possessions. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

“Overall I felt it was a great half, we played really hard. The big key for us was our defense. We made stops and that allowed our offense to find plenty of opportunities. Our experience took over.” "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

Mathews and company torched the nets for 20 minutes as the Bisons built, what seemed like an insurmountable, 60-31 lead at the break behind 66.7-percent shooting from the floor. It was the most points the Bisons had scored in any half this season."according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

“I told our guys in the locker room at halftime, ‘you won that half by 29, so they can win the second half by 29’,” Alexander said. “We knew they (FGCU) would make a run, we just didn’t know how much of a run it would be.” "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

That run Alexander spoke of, came in the second half. Outscoring the Bisons 65-48 in the final 20 minutes of action, FGCU attempted the largest second-half comeback in NCAA history behind All-ASUN First Team honoree Zach Johnson and the league’s Player of the Year in Brandon Goodwin."according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

Johnson set two ASUN Final records with 37 points and nine three-pointers. He had just eight points and two long balls at the break. Goodwin finished with 34 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field. Both marked career highs for both Johnson and Goodwin. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

The All-Tournament team duo led a ferocious comeback that put FGCU on a 19-4 run in a span of 2:19, to cut the Bisons lead to 76-60. Johnson and Goodwin combined for 17 of those 19 points."according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

The Eagles full-court press that caused Alexander’s squad fits in the previous two meetings this season, did so once again on Sunday. After committing just six turnovers in the first half, the Bisons coughed the rock up 13 times after the break, trimming the lead to just 84-79 – the closest the game had been since 12-7 in the first half. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

“It is so hard to settle down, regain your exposure and just be players,” Alexander said. “Especially when they came from 18 points down to win against us three weeks ago.” "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

Thankfully for the Bisons, the left-handed machine Rob Marberry got going in the paint. The junior center shocked Lipscomb back to life with a couple want-it-more buckets when the Bisons needed them the most. He scored nine points in less than three minutes to push the Bisons lead back out to double-digits, 95-85. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

After the Eagles cut back to within six following a pair of free throws from Christian Terrell, sophomore guard Michael Buckland came up with an off-balanced jumper that banked off the backboard and into the net to extend the lead back to 99-91. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

That would be as close as FGCU would come as point guard Kenny Cooper knocked down six shots from the charity stripe in front of a raucous Eagles student section to seal championship and the ASUN’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

“Taking time after practice and getting those reps in at the free throw line, it just becomes second nature,” Cooper said. “Coach always tells me, ‘want the ball at the end of the game and want the pressure’. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

“That’s the kind of mentality I take into those moments. I want the pressure of having to step up and make two shots.” "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

The last time the Bisons reached the ASUN Final was in 2006 when they lost to Battle of the Boulevard rival Belmont in overtime. Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander was an assistant coach for Belmont at the time. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

 HERD NOTES:

• Lipscomb improved to 13-9 all-time against FGCU – the only school in the ASUN with a winning record over the Eagles.
• The 108 points scored by the Bisons are the most-ever in an ASUN Final, and their second most of the season (110 at USC Upstate).
• The 204 combined points broke the ASUN’s previous record of 201 in the championship game, set in 1985 between Mercer and UALR.
• Mathews (MVP) was joined by Marberry and Cooper on the All-Tournament Team.
• The 83 points scored by Mathews during the ASUN Tournament was just four shy of the league record set by Centenary’s Willie Jackson in 1982.
• Marberry finished with 14 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting from the field. He also added three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
• With Mathews getting all the spotlight, the unsung hero of the first half for Lipscomb was Cooper. He only scored four points in the half, but the Franklin Road Academy product was dynamic with the ball in his hands, resulting in nine assists to zero turnovers.
• Cooper finished with 17 points, a game-high nine assists, five rebounds and one steal.
• Redshirt-sophomore Matt Rose added 14 points on three treys and three free throws.
• Junior forward Eli Pepper collected 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.
• Buckland was credited with a career high five steals, as part of the team’s 12. He also had a career high three blocks.
• Lipscomb outshot FGCU 65.3 percent (32-of-49) to 40.8 percent (29-of-71).
• The Bisons recorded 24 assists to 19 turnovers, while FGCU notched 13 helpers and 18 miscues.
• The 24 assists were the second most of the season for the Bisons (27 vs. Fisk).
• With 12 three-pointers, Lipscomb has hit double-figure long balls in 11 games this season. Five times they have hit 12 or more.
• The Eagles were outscored in the paint for just the fifth time this season, 38-26.

FGCU’s 16 made treys tied its single-game record in the programs NCAA era. "according to http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/2017-18/14948/bisons-stampede-into-the-big-dance/

Tip-off is set for 2:45pm from the Spectrum Center. The game will be televised on CBS. "according to http://goheels.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball