Herd Media looks back on the Battle of the Boulevard

As the Lipscomb student body gears up for another installment of its heated matchup with cross-town rival Belmont University, it is also important to remember the history of the Battle of the Boulevard.

Even the most passionate Bisons fan may not know the complete story of these two teams, with good reason. There have been 152 meetings between these teams, going all the way back to 1953.

In preparation for the 153rd meeting, Herd Media looks back on this classic Nashville match.

The Early Years

From the beginning, the game that came to be known as the Battle of the Boulevard was a competitive series. Starting on Dec. 11, 1953, with a 72-53 Belmont victory, the rivalry took form and continued through the 60s with the Bruins holding a 24-17 series lead.

Through the 70s, Lipscomb’s program improved, closing the gap. The late 70s were a turning point, as in 1976, Don Meyer was hired as the head coach of the Bisons.

Meyer brought a dominance to the series that had not been seen before. From 1976 to 1989, his Bisons held a 30-9 stranglehold on the series. ’89, however, would be another flashpoint in the timeline of the rivalry.

Birth of the Battle

In 1989, Lipscomb was a national power. Only 3 years removed from an NAIA championship, the Bisons faced off with their cross-town foes yet again in the district tournament. The Bruins stunned the #1 ranked Bisons and the country, winning the game 105-98. This upset garnered major interest throughout the city, and with the help of the Nashville sports council, it was decided that the next year’s showdown would be put on a stage that had never been seen before.

On Feb. 17th, 1990, Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Vanderbilt University played host to the biggest Battle of the Boulevard yet. The game drew a massive audience, setting an NAIA attendance record, as well as national news coverage. Lipscomb got their payback, winning a wild and high-scoring game 124-107.

In the years after the 1990 matchup, both teams took turns dominating the rivalry, all the way until 1996, when both schools took an 8-year hiatus from the series as they moved into the NCAA.

New Age, Same Game

When the Battle of the Boulevard returned in 2004, both Lipscomb and Belmont had gone through dramatic evolutions. Both teams had joined the A-SUN conference, and both schools had brand-new basketball arenas. What had not changed, though, was the ferocity of the rivalry.

Another milestone occurred when, in 2006, both teams reached the A-SUN conference championship with a first-time trip to the March Madness Tournament on the line. Belmont won a close one, 74-69 in overtime.

The rivalry only continued to solidify, even with Belmont leaving the A-SUN in 2012. Coming into 2026, the all-time series is tied 76-76, and while these two foes are a conference apart, the history of this game remains deeply rooted in the city where it took shape.

As students head to Allen Arena today, beyond the pregame festivities, the overflowing stands, and the rowdy atmosphere that comes along with this beautiful game, they step into the game’s history. In the ever-changing landscape of college sports and modern life, this match stands as an enduring tradition for Bison and Bruin alike.

Feature image courtesy of Catherine Scott