Box Score (PDF)

Nashville, Tenn. – Josh Williams hit the game-winning three-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining to cap an 12-4 run to close the game to lift Lipscomb to a 77-75 victory over USC Upstate Thursday evening from Allen Arena.

Ricardo Glenn gave Upstate a 71-63 lead with 2:11 left when he made the second of two free throws. Chad Johnson answered on the ensuing Lipscomb possession with a three-pointer to pull the Bisons within five points at 71-61 at the 2:01 mark.

Glenn pushed the lead back to seven points at 73-66 with a layup with 1:33 remaining, but Lipscomb got a three-pointer from Williams on the other end to trim the lead to 73-69. The Spartans, however, responded on their next trip with a layup from Shunquez Stephens to go back up by six points.

Lipscomb continued to chip away at the lead and crawled within three points on the next possession following a three-pointer from J.C. Hampton with 1:05 left. After a turnover by Upstate, Hampton hit a layup with 50 seconds to play to leave the Bisons trailing 75-74.

Upstate failed to score on the next possession and Malcolm Smith secured the rebound for Lipscomb. The Bisons called a timeout and Martin Smith found Williams in the corner for the game-winner that propelled Lipscomb to its fourth straight win.

Hampton and Williams both finished with 21 points for Lipscomb. Martin Smith added 14 points, and Malcolm Smith tallied 11 points and six rebounds.

Torrey Craig paced Upstate with 18 points. Glenn finished with 15 points and nine rebounds and fell just shy of a double-double in five straight games. Jodd Maxey posted 11 points and seven rebounds, while Fred Miller tallied a career-high nine assists.

Upstate built a 39-35 lead early in the second half before Lipscomb used a 14-3 run to take a 49-42 lead with 12:28 remaining. The Spartans immediately answered by going on a 9-1 run to regain the lead capped by a jumper in the paint from Craig.

Lipscomb opened the game strong and built a 10-6 edge before Upstate reeled off seven straight points to take a 13-10 lead just over four minutes into the game. The two teams went back-and-and forth for the next few minutes before Karim Mawuenyega hit back-to-back three-pointers to put Upstate ahead 21-16 midway through the half.

The Bisons would eventually regain the lead on a basket from Williams just over a minute before halftime, but Upstate scored the final three points to take a 31-29 lead at intermission. Glenn led Upstate with eight points and five rebounds to help the Spartans hold a 14-6 advantage in points in the paint.

Upstate returns to action Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Spartans travel to Highland Heights, Ky., to face Northern Kentucky from the Bank of Kentucky Center.

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