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Lipscomb (16-4, 7-0 A-Sun) at Liberty (18-4, 7-0 A-Sun) – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN+)
We have a number of UTR games this week between first and second-place teams in their respective conferences this week; the first 1-2 matchup involves the Lipscomb Bisons and the Liberty Flames. Liberty hosts the first leg; they come into tonight’s game with a NET of 46 that includes wins at UCLA, at Kent State and at home against Georgia State. The Flames have won eight straight games since Christmas Break, including a perfect 7-for-7 in their A-Sun debut since moving from the Big South Conference. Four players average double figures in points for Liberty; they are led by Scottie James (12.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG).
Lipscomb actually has better metrics at this stage; they come into tonight with a NET of 39 and a nonconference SOS of 55 that includes wins at TCU and at SMU back in November. Unlike last year, however, they were swept in the Battle of the Boulevard between crosstown rival Belmont. Overall, Lipscomb has won seven straight league games after falling in their final noncon tuneup at Clemson back on December 30th. Garrison Mathews leads the Bisons with 18.8 points per game.