MACON, Ga. (AP) Eddie Ard scored 23 points as Lipscomb protected its lead in the Atlantic Sun Conference by beating Mercer 83-66 Saturday.<br>
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Lipscomb (14-7 overall, 10-3 Atlantic Sun) has won eight of its last nine games.<br>
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Lipscomb also beat Mercer by the same 83-66 score on Jan. 14 in Nashville.<br>
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Brian Fisk added 16 points and Shaun Durant had 12 points and nine rebounds as Lipscomb completed a sweep of the two regular-season games with Mercer.<br>
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Mercer (5-15, 4-10) had 14 points from Andrew Brown. Jacob Skogen added 12 points.<br>
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Lipscomb began the day with a half-game lead over four teams in the conference race. The Bisons led 46-32 at halftime.<br>
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Lipscomb made 11 of 27 3-point shots, including four from Ard.<br>
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James Poindexter had 11 points and six assists for Lipscomb.<br>
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(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
