Pepper with 16 points as Lipscomb edges SMU 79-73

DALLAS -- Eli Pepper scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds and Lipscomb held on late to edge Southern Methodist 79-73 on Saturday night.

Rob Marberry also had 16 points for the Bisons (3-1). Garrison Mathews had 15 points with seven rebounds and four assists and Matt Rose had 11 points and five rebounds.

Lipscomb trailed 36-29 at the break but in the second half, two quick layups by Marberry and 3-pointers by Pepper and Kenny Cooper helped the Bisons pull within a point, 43-42, with 16:47 to play. Marberry, Rose and Pepper contributed to a 10-2 surge midway that gave Lipscomb the lead, 59-54, with 9:24 remaining.

The Bisons never trailed after that although SMU kept it tight, closing to tie it 63-all with 5:42 left before Lipscomb pulled ahead again on a Rose layup and two Mathews free throws.

Ethan Chargois scored 22 points with 11 rebounds to lead the Mustangs (2-2).