Marberry lifts Lipscomb over UNC-Greensboro 86-69 in NIT

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Rob Marberry had 24 points as Lipscomb got past UNC Greensboro 86-69 in the NIT second round on Saturday. Garrison Mathews added 21 points for the Bisons.

Marberry hit 12 of 13 shots. Mathews also had 11 rebounds for the Bisons.

Kenny Cooper had 11 points and six assists for Lipscomb (27-7), which entered ninth in the nation by scoring 83.6 points per game. The Bisons will face the winner of North Carolina State and Harvard.

Francis Alonso, averaging 17.3 points per game, had 27 points for the No. 1 seed Spartans (29-7). Isaiah Miller, the Southern Conference defensive player of the year, added 21 points. The duo combined for 36 of UNCG’s 64 field-goal attempts.

Alonso, Demetrius Troy and Lloyd Burgess became the winningest senior class in program history. The Bisons were trying to reach the 30-win plateau for the first time in program history.