NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- J.C. Hampton logged 22 points, and Malcom Smith added 21 in helping Lipscomb narrowly get past Kennesaw State 88-83 on Thursday night.

Lipscomb (7-11, 2-5 Atlantic Sun) and Kennesaw State (4-15, 1-5) were knotted at 45 at intermission even though Kennesaw outshot Lipscomb from the floor 60 to 42 percent. Lipscomb was able to stay with Kennesaw by outrebounding the Owls on the offensive boards 11-4.

Lipscomb got the hot hand and led 56-48 two minutes into the second half capped by a Khion Sankey layup.

The Owls' Kris Drees evened things up at 67 midway through the second period but that would be the last time the Bisons would forfeit their advantage as Smith made 5 of 6 free throw attempts in the final 1:57 to maintain the narrow spread into the buzzer.

Kennesaw State shot 55 percent for the game but was bested 14-5 in second chance points.