Monday, January 23, 2006

Macon, Ga. – Lipscomb’s Eddie Ard received his first A-Sun Player of the Week nod after a week highlighted by pouring in a career-high 25 points to lead Lipscomb to their fifth straight victory, a 97-85 overtime decision versus Belmont before a standing room only crowd at Allen Arena on Friday night.

Ard added a game-high 11 rebounds in the win over the Bruins to post his second double-double of the season. The 6-5 wingman drilled 11-of-12 shot from the foul line to help secure the victory as well. The win helped Lipscomb maintain their place in the standings, just one game behind league leader Kennesaw State in the loss column. Prior to the Belmont game, the sophomore dropped a game-high 22 points in a slim 57-52 win over visiting Stetson. In that game, Ard scored six of the Bisons final nine points.

For the season, Ard leads the Bisons in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game and has eclipsed the 20-point plateau six times. The LaPlace, La., native wins his first POTW award and the second for the Bisons since joining the A-Sun in 2003. Ard is majoring in Organizational Communications at Lipscomb. The Bisons will play for sole possession of second place in the conference standings when they travel to Florida Atlantic for a Tuesday night tilt.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out Player of the Week awards weekly during the 2005-06 basketball campaign.

The 11-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Florida Atlantic, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida and Stetson.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
• Tim Smith, ETSU (Sr. - G - Newport News, Va. - Sport Management Major)
Averaged 22.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists in ETSU's three wins last week

• Golden Ingle, Kennesaw State (Jr. - G - Orem, Utah. - Management Major)
Posted first career double-double with 18 pts/14 ast versus JU; 16.3 ppg, 8.3 apg for week

• Rodney Webb, Florida Atlantic (Sr. - F - Long Beach, Calif. - Criminal Justice Major)
Posted 7th double-double of the season in win over Belmont on Sunday with 23 points and 11 rebounds

• Justin Hare, Belmont (So. - G - Cleveland, Tenn. - Exercise Science Major)
Scored 20 points to go with 10 rebounds versus Lipscomb for his first career double-double