Lipscomb wins Atlantic Sun tourney, NCAAs berth

NASHVILLE, Tenn.– Joe Anderson scored 12 of his team-high 23 points in the last 4 minutes to assist power top-seeded Lipscomb to a 76-65 success over North Alabama on Sunday to win the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championship and claim an automated berth into the NCAA tournament.The Bisons(25-9

)finished tied with North Alabama( 24-10 )for the regular-season champion with 14 wins and were the No. 1 tournament seed. Lipscomb required overtime to surpass sixth-seeded Queens in the semifinals. The Lions were seeded 2nd and beat fourth-seeded Jacksonville to reach the last. Lipscomb guard Kellan Boylan(23)raises the prize after the Bisons beat North Alabama to win the Atlantic Sun Conference competition and an automated berth in the NCAA competition. AP Photo/John Amis Jacari Lane’s jumper provided North Alabama the lead with

11:46 left, and Donte Bacchus converted a three-point play for a 53-49 advantage. Jacob Ognacevic hit 3 of 4 complimentary tosses and Will Pruitt struck from 3 for a 55-53 lead and Gyasi Powell struck a 3 with 4:13 delegated put Lipscomb in front for good.Anderson hit from deep to make it 65-60 and then struck from 3 in a 7-0 go to take a

10-point lead with 1:34 left and converted 3-of-4 from the line in the last minute.Editor’s Picks 1 Related Anderson was 6-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-7 from deep, and hit 7-of-8 from the line with 4

helps, 2

steals and 3 blocked shots to lead Lipscomb. Pruitt was a best 10-for-10 from the line and ended up with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 helps. Powell struck 4-of-6 from 3-point range to add 16 points and Ognacevic had 14 points and nine rebounds.Lane ended up with 18 points and Corneilous Williams scored 15 points with 7 rebounds to lead North Alabama. Will Soucie had 10 points with 6 boards and Taye Fields pulled down 12 rebounds to go with his 6 points.