NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Ethan Duncan scored 27 points and Grant Asman added 17 as Lipscomb defeated Bellarmine 81-71 in ASUN Conference men’s basketball Thursday night at Allen Arena. The Bisons built a 22-point halftime lead behind a dominant first half, shooting 49 percent from the floor and making 9 of 18 three-point attempts before the break. The Knights chipped away in the second half, cutting the deficit to single digits, but could not complete the comeback. Bellarmine’s Jack Karasinski led his team with 16 points. Lipscomb’s efficient offense, which committed only six turnovers, proved decisive despite Bellarmine’s 12-5 edge in steals. An announced crowd of 977 watched as Lipscomb improved to 11-7 overall while Bellarmine fell to 6-11.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — A blistering first-half shooting display from Ethan Duncan and a dominant interior performance from Grant Asman propelled Lipscomb to an 81-71 victory over Bellarmine in an ASUN Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Allen Arena. The Bisons, improving to 11-7 overall and 3-2 in league play, built a commanding 22-point halftime lead behind a historic individual outburst and then withstood a determined but inefficient second-half rally from the Knights. Bellarmine fell to 6-11 and 1-4. The defining stretch of the game arrived early and decisively. With Lipscomb leading 15-10 near the midway point of the first half, Duncan, a 6-foot guard from Lubbock, Texas, entered the contest and immediately ignited a firestorm. He connected on his first three-point attempt just 10 seconds after checking in, sparking a personal 12-0 run over the next two and a half minutes. Duncan hit four consecutive three-pointers during the flurry, the last coming at the 10:38 mark to give the Bisons a 27-12 advantage and forcing a Bellarmine timeout. Duncan’s onslaught continued unabated. He finished the first half with 27 points, sinking 8 of 10 shots from the field, including a remarkable 7 of 9 from beyond the arc. His scoring single-handedly outmatched the entire Bellarmine roster, which managed only 27 points in the period. Lipscomb shot 57.1% from the field in the half and took a 49-27 lead into the break, a deficit from which the Knights could not recover. Bellarmine, displaying characteristic resilience, opened the second half with increased defensive pressure. The Knights forced eight Lipscomb turnovers after halftime and chipped away at the lead, eventually cutting it to 10 points on multiple occasions. A three-pointer from Brian Waddell of Carmel, Indiana, made it 74-64 with just over a minute to play, but the Knights could get no closer. The comeback attempt was undermined by persistent offensive struggles. Bellarmine shot just 37.1% for the game and a frigid 19.2% from three-point range. They also left points at the free throw line, converting only 20 of 30 attempts. Jack Karasinski led the Knights with 16 points, while Waddell added 13. While Duncan’s first-half explosion set the stage, Asman provided the consistent force for Lipscomb. The 6-foot-10 forward from Kimberly, Wisconsin, scored 17 points, grabbed key rebounds, and anchored the defense with two blocks. His presence inside helped Lipscomb to a 32-34 points-in-the-paint advantage and limited Bellarmine’s interior opportunities. Lipscomb also benefited from superior ball movement and transition play, recording 14 fastbreak points to Bellarmine’s five. Mateo Esmeraldo orchestrated the offense with eight assists. Charlie Williams added 10 points and four assists for the Bisons. Bellarmine’s effort was notable in hustle categories, as they out-assisted Lipscomb 8-3, recorded eight steals, and forced 12 turnovers while committing only six of their own. But they could not overcome the massive early deficit created by Duncan’s shooting clinic and Lipscomb’s 49-point first-half offensive efficiency. The announced attendance at Allen Arena was 977. Lipscomb next hosts Austin Peay on Saturday. Bellarmine travels to face Eastern Kentucky, also on Saturday.

ASUN Men’s Basketball Preview: Bellarmine Visits Lipscomb NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — ASUN Conference play continues Thursday as the Lipscomb Bisons host the Bellarmine Knights at Allen Arena. The Bisons (10-7 overall) enter with momentum, having won three of their last four games. They are coming off an 84-77 road victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, powered by a career-high 27 points from forward Charlie Williams. The sophomore added seven rebounds and three blocks in that outing, showcasing the form that has made him a key scorer. Lipscomb is 6-1 at home this season. Bellarmine (6-10) looks to snap a two-game skid after falling 82-73 to North Alabama at home last Saturday. The Knights have struggled on the road, with an 0-7 record in true away games. They will lean on guard Brian Waddell, who scored 20 points in the loss to North Alabama and has averaged 16.7 points over his last six contests. Support from Jack Karasinski and Kenyon Goodin, who each added 17 points on Saturday, will be crucial. The matchup pits Bellarmine’s offensive challenges against a Lipscomb team that has found consistency. The Knights average 77.4 points per game but allow 80.1. Lipscomb scores at a similar clip (79.9 PPG) but boasts a stronger defense, conceding 75.2 points on average. Historically, the series has been competitive, adding intrigue to this mid-January clash. The teams will meet again in Louisville on Feb. 18. Tipoff is set for 7:45 p.m. EST Thursday. For Bellarmine, the game begins a two-game Tennessee road swing, while Lipscomb opens a brief two-game homestand before traveling next week.