Concordia’s Lead Dissolves in Loss to Lipscomb

Concordia Coach Greg Marshall wanted to measure the progress of his men’s basketball program by playing strong teams.

Earlier this season, the Eagles faced their first NCAA Division I opponent, losing by 14 points to Cal State Fullerton. Friday, they took on Lipscomb University, a perennial NAIA power from Nashville, Tenn., and made an impression before losing, 80-69, at home.

The Eagles (6-4) led at halftime, 40-35, and by a point with 12 minutes 22 seconds remaining in the game, but Lipscomb went on a 18-4 run to take control.

Lipscomb (13-1), ranked No. 2 in the preseason NAIA Division I poll, was playing on the road for the first time this season. The Bisons entered the game averaging 112 points and hadn’t scored fewer than 91 this season.

But Concordia took control early with a methodical offense. Marshall said his team was trying to take at least 20 seconds to shoot.

Lipscomb was cold early, missing its first three shots as the Eagles took a 6-0 lead. Two of the misses were by John Pierce, the 6-7 center who was the NAIA player of the year last season.

Pierce finished with a game-high 28 points.

In the first half, Concordia set a pace to its liking, but that quickly changed.

“I think the game was played at a faster pace in the second half and I think that helped us,” said Lipscomb Coach Don Meyer, 49, who reached the 500-victory mark last season, faster than any coach in collegiate basketball history.

Lipscomb scored the first six points of the second half and after that was never more than a point behind until the Bisons took control when Andy McQueen and Pierce made consecutive three-point shots to start a 15-2 run with about 10 minutes left.

Vujadin Jovic scored 19 points for the Eagles.