LAREDO, Texas (December 17, 2015) – A lowly offensive output hindered Lubbock Christian University in a 61-49 loss to Texas A&M International in the Heartland Conference opener for both squads Thursday night at United High School, as the Chaps connected on a season-low 14 field goals while A.J. Luckey was the only LCU double-digit scorer with his team-high 10 points.
 
The Dustdevils (6-3, 1-0 Heartland) did not have a stellar shooting night either, as TAMIU hit 38-percent of their shots compared to a 27-percent performance by LCU. Perhaps the off-night could be attributed to an unfamiliar gym, as tonight's contest was held at UHS due to TAMIU's commencement ceremony occurring inside their familiar on-campus facility. The Chaps (6-3, 0-1 Heartland) mustered just one three-pointer on the evening, a deep bucket from Marcos Schuster with 60 seconds remaining, while TAMIU had success on four attempts.
 
Luckey supplied LCU with its first lead of the game on a jumper three-and-a-half minutes in, but Dustdevil Jordan VanDeKop answered with a bucket of his own before a score in the paint by TAMIU's big man, Arkeem Joseph, gave the home team a 9-6 advantage. A Ridrell Holman three-point play tied things up at 15-all with seven minutes to play before the half, but the Dustdevils closed the first half on a 7-1 run to head into the locker room with a 28-21 edge.
 
Back-to-back three-pointers by VanDeKop and teammate Anthony Alston opened up the game 34-23 in favor of TAMIU following the break. Buckets by Luckey and Matt Alford each cut the deficit to single digits at nine, but six straight Dustdevil points extended the lead to 42-27. Brennen Fowler produced the only scoring offense for the Chaps during a four-minute span where the forward hit a jumper from the elbow, a pair of free throws and a bucket in the paint to pull LCU to within 46-37 with under six minutes left.
 
A fast break layup by Arthur Santanna of TAMIU pushed the lead to 56-40, the widest margin of the game, with two minutes remaining to seal the win for the Dustdevils. The Chaps are now 1-2 in Heartland Conference openers since joining the league in 2013-14.
 
For LCU, Marcus Arrington totaled seven points while Fowler and Holman each registered six.
 
For TAMIU, Alston earned game-high honors with 14 points. VanDeKop added 13 and Joseph registered a double-double with his 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Chaps close their opening week of conference play at St. Mary's Saturday at 3 p.m.