Lipscomb, High Point, and Drake Punch NCAA Tournament Tickets with Conference Championship Wins
Lipscomb Secures ASUN Title, Returns to NCAA Tournament
Lipscomb clinched its second Atlantic Sun Conference championship in program history with a 76-65 victory over North Alabama on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn. The top-seeded Bisons (25-9, 14-4 ASUN) drained 40.4 percent of their field goals and were deadly from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 27 (44.4 percent) to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
Joe Anderson led the charge with 23 points, while Will Pruitt added 17 and Gyasi Powell chipped in 16 for Lipscomb. Their offensive efficiency and strong perimeter shooting helped them fend off the second-seeded Lions (24-10, 14-4), who were led by Jacari Lane’s 18 points. Corneilous Williams contributed 15 points, and Will Soucie finished with 10 for North Alabama.
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High Point Rallies Past Winthrop to Claim Big South Crown
High Point is heading to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history after a dominant second-half performance propelled them to an 81-69 win over Winthrop in the Big South championship game in Johnson City, Tenn.
Trailing by 10 at halftime, the top-seeded Panthers (29-5, 14-2) turned the game around with a 22-point second-half swing. Bobby Pettiford led the charge with 17 points, while Kezza Giffa added 16. Abdoulaye Thiam contributed 12 points, and Trae Benham pulled down 10 rebounds in the victory.
Winthrop (23-11, 11-5), the No. 3 seed, had five players score in double figures, with Kelton Talford leading the way with 15 points and eight rebounds. Bryce Baker and Nick Johnson each scored 11, while K.J. Doucet and Kasen Harrison had 10 points apiece. Despite their strong first half, the Eagles were outmatched in the final 20 minutes as High Point took control.
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Drake Dominates Bradley for Missouri Valley Title
Drake punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year, securing a convincing 63-48 win over Bradley in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game in St. Louis.
The top-seeded Bulldogs (30-3, 17-3) were led by Bennett Stirtz, who poured in 24 points, while Tavion Banks added 13 points and nine rebounds. Drake shot 45.7 percent from the field (21 of 46) and controlled the boards, outrebounding Bradley 32-19, including an 11-3 advantage on the offensive glass.
Bradley (26-8, 15-5) struggled offensively, shooting just 41.5 percent overall and 25 percent from beyond the arc. Darius Hannah was the lone bright spot with 19 points, while Duke Deen contributed eight and Christian Davis had seven.
With their victories, Lipscomb, High Point, and Drake join the growing list of teams securing automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, each looking to make a statement in March Madness.
