JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A slow start to the second half doomed the Jacksonville men's basketball team as Lipscomb held off a late rally for a 77-71 win in Atlantic Sun Conference play on Monday night.
Lipscomb (7-8, 2-1 A-Sun) scored the first eight points of the second half to break a tie game with four players finishing in double figures, led by Jordan Burgason's game-high 17 points - 12 of which came in the second half.
The Dolphins (2-11, 0-2 A-Sun) got a team-high 16 points from Keith McDougald, 10 of which came in the second half rally that saw the Dolphins get within four.
"We missed some assignments on defense, they hit some shots and that took the wind out of our sails," said JU head coach Cliff Warren. "Our guys fought hard late to get back in the game."
With the game tied at 38, Lipscomb opened the second half with a 17-3 run, hitting two 3-pointers and capping the run with a Marvin Williams layup to take a 55-41 lead with 12:30 left in the game.
The Bisons eventually built a 62-46 lead with 8:05 left on a 3-pointer by Zavion Williams.
The Dolphins came alive in the final eight minutes, turning up the defensive pressure en route to a 15-5 run to cut the deficit to six, 67-61, with 1:50 left.
Jacksonville's hopes for a comeback died at the free throw line, as Lipscomb hit all 10 free throws in the final 90 seconds to seal the win.
Those last 10 free throws were critical in a big night at the stripe for the Bisons, who hit 20-of-24 at the stripe. JU was just 8-of-16.
The first half was about runs, with JU building a six-point lead in the opening minutes, trailing by five thanks to an 8-0 Lipscomb run before using a 13-3 run late in the half to go into the locker room tied at 38.
Glenn Powell had 14 points for JU, all of them coming in the first half. Tevin Galvin added 13 points, hitting a career-best four 3-pointers, with Delwan Graham adding 10 points.
Deonte Alexander added 14 points for Lipscomb, with Williams chipping in with 12 and Jacob Arnett scoring 10.
The Dolphins have a short turnaround as they face preseason A-Sun favorite Belmont on Wednesday at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m.
