Lipscomb Bisons men's basketball

Last updated
Lipscomb Bisons men's basketball
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Lipscomb Bisons men's basketball team
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University Lipscomb University
Head coach Kevin Carroll (1st season)
Conference Atlantic Sun
Location Nashville, Tennessee
Arena Allen Arena
(capacity: 5,028)
Nickname Bisons
ColorsPurple and gold [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
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Alternate
NCAA tournament appearances
2018, 2025
NAIA tournament champions
1986
NAIA semifinals
1986, 1990, 1996
NAIA quarterfinals
1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2000
NAIA tournament second round
1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000
Conference tournament champions
2018, 2025
Conference regular season champions
2006, 2010, 2019, 2025

The Lipscomb Bisons men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, United States in NCAA Division I. The school's team currently competes in the ASUN Conference. [2] Previously, the Bisons played men's basketball in NCAA Division II and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Bisons have appeared two times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2025 after defeating North Alabama in the ASUN championship. In 2019, Lipscomb made history by becoming the first team in ASUN history to make it to the National Invitation Tournament Final.

Contents

History

Lipscomb has a 311280 all-time record in NCAA basketball and a 186141 record in ASUN games. Lipscomb won their first ASUN men's basketball tournament title in 2018, despite winning the regular-season conference title twice before, in 2006 and 2010. The Bisons made the NCAA tournament for the first time in 2018. They have competed in the NIT twice, in 2006 and 2019. [3] Lipscomb is also home to the top two all-time leading college basketball scorers, John Pierce and Philip Hutcheson. Lipscomb also won the NAIA National championship in 1986.

Battle of the Boulevard

Lipscomb maintains a rivalry with nearby Belmont University, and the two men's basketball teams compete annually in a game known as the Battle of the Boulevard. The game is named for Belmont Boulevard, on which both schools are located. The 2 miles (3.2 km) separating the schools makes them among the closest rivals in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The rivalry began in 1953, when both schools played in the NAIA, and continued into the NCAA when both schools transitioned to Division I in the 1990s. Lipscomb leads the all-time series 7361, while Belmont leads 149 in NCAA play. [4] [5]

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Bisons have appeared in two NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 0–2.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
2018 #15First Round North Carolina L 66–84
2025 #14First Round Iowa State L 55–82

NIT results

The Bisons have appeared in two National Invitation Tournaments (NITs). Their record is 4–2. They were the runner up in 2019.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
2006 #10Opening RoundUTEPL 66–85
2019 #5First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
Davidson
UNC Greensboro
NC State
Wichita State
Texas
W 89–81
W 86–69
W 94–93
W 71–64
L 66–81

NAIA tournament results

The Bison have appeared in the NAIA Tournament 14 times. Their combined record is 21–13. They were NAIA National Champions in 1986.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1982 #5First Round#28 Kearney StateL 87–92
1985 #17First Round
Second Round
#16 William Carey
#1 Fort Hayes State
W 68–66
L 48–55
1986 #11First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
#22 Minnesota–Duluth
#6 Emporia State
#14 Central Washington
#7 Saint Thomas Aquinas
#25 Arkansas–Monticello
W 62–56
W 79–76
W 80–64
W 102–91
W 67–54
1988 #3First Round
Second Round
#30 East Texas Baptist
#14 College of Idaho
W 89–63
L 108–123
1990 #1First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
#32 Midland Lutheran
#17 Central Arkansas
#24 Pfeiffer
#4 Birmingham–Southern
W 92–73
W 70–66
W 125–83
L 96–98
1991 #3First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
#30 Holy Family
#14 Briar Cliff
#6 Pfeiffer
W 106–75
W 89–87
L 95–105
1992 #11First Round
Second Round
#22 Findlay
#6 BYU–Hawaiʻi
W 67–66
L 66–90
1993 #4First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
#29 McKendree
#13 Life
#21 Georgetown (KY)
W 87–72
W 94–89
L 91–101
1994 #12First Round#21 Saint Mary's (TX)L 62–77
1995 #18First Round
Second Round
#15 Oklahoma Baptist
#31 Montana State–Northern
W 74–63
L 78–92
1996 #4First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
#29 Talladega
#20 McKendree
#21 East Central
#1 Georgetown (KY)
W 91–78
W 95–87
W 93–75
L 84–97
1997 #7First Round#26 Point ParkL 100–111
1999 #17First Round#16 BiolaL 46–51
2000 #2First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
#31 Saint Gregory's
#15 Central State
#10 Biola
W 77–66
W 77–41
L 71–82

Notable alumni

References

  1. Lipscomb University Brand Identity Guide and Stylebook (PDF). January 1, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  2. "Lipscomb Bisons". ESPN.com . Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  3. "201213 Lipscomb Men's Basketball Quick Facts" (PDF). Lipscomb University. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  4. "Battle of the Boulevard". Lipscomb University . Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  5. "Belmont 89, Lipscomb 60". ESPN.com . Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  6. "Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame bio". Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 14, 2021.