With wins in seven of the last nine regular-season games and the Atlantic Sun tourney being played in its own gym, Lipscomb had the momentum and the opportunity to make 2007-08 the year of the Bisons.

Instead, they got knocked out in the first round by East Tennessee State in a game that featured a three-step pattern common in Lipscomb losses: 1. Fall behind early. 2. Make a late comeback. 3. Run out of gas.

"We missed so many easy shots in the first half that really hurt us, and we expended so much energy trying to come back that we just couldn't get over the hump," Bisons head coach Scott Sanderson told the Nashville City Paper.

Sanderson was referring to the season-ending 81-74 loss to the Buccaneers, but those words were applicable to several other defeats during a mediocre campaign by Lipscomb standards. The Bisons tied for fifth in the Atlantic Sun at 9-7, a step down after 2006-07 (11-7, tied for third) and 2005-06 (15-5, tied for first).

On a positive note, they did develop several young players, including four freshmen who could all be in the starting lineup next season. Ten different players scored in double figures in at least one game, including seven who will be back in 2008-09.

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