FORT SMITH, Ark. (January 16, 2016) – The Chaparrals of Lubbock Christian University tied a team season-high in three pointers by knocking down 12-of-22 from behind the arc while Marcus Arrington matched his career-high of 18 points, but it was not enough as LCU fell 84-74 to Arkansas-Fort Smith Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd inside the Stubblefield Center to even their mark in the Heartland standings.
 
The Chaps' (10-6, 4-4 Heartland) improved shooting performance from the field was overshadowed by a 10-of-17 showing from the free throw line compared to the Lions' 20 makes on 23 tries. UAFS (13-3, 6-2 Heartland) also took advantage of 19 Chap turnovers by converting them into 26 points. The two losses accumulated this week by LCU mirror last season's road trip to UAFS and Rogers State where the Chaps returned home from the long trip 0-2.
 
The nationally televised game was close throughout, comprising of 16 lead changes and five ties. LCU and UAFS battled out the final minutes of the contest just as they had the entire evening, and with 49 seconds remaining A.J. Luckey pulled LCU to within 77-74 on a pair of free throws. On the next trip down the floor, the Lions' Alex Cooper drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key with a Chap defender in his face to stretch the lead to six with 24 seconds on the clock. A Luckey attempt from deep was off the mark, forcing LCU to foul, and UAFS sank their final four foul shots for the final double-digit victory.
 
Isaac Cardona gave the Chaps an early 9-8 edge four minutes in, but LCU failed to benefit from two Lion offensive fouls as they were whistled for back-to-back traveling violations. Two field goals by UAFS turned the lead back into the hands of the Lions, 12-9, at the 13:46 mark. A three by Arrington and single free throw then pushed the Chaps ahead by one at 11:31. Brennen Fowler provided a score in the paint and free throw before Ridrell Holman nailed a three from the left side to give LCU their largest lead of the ballgame at 23-17 with six minutes until the break. A 16-7 Lion run throughout the next four minutes turned the score in favor of UAFS, 33-30, before a three by Marcos Schuster from the left baseline and a shot from the top of the key by Tyler Rogers sent the Chaps into the half with a 36-35 edge.
 
Seth Youngblood of the Lions opened the second half with one of his game-high four three-pointers to again put UAFS out in front. With less than 13 minutes to play, Dusan Stojanovic of the Lions missed a shot, but the Chaps failed to corral the loose ball which again ended up in the hands of Stojanovic and resulted in a three-point play and a five-point Lion lead. UAFS used that momentum to build an 11-point advantage throughout the next five minutes before LCU became hot. Luckey supplied a trey from the left wing by before ripping off a steal that led to a putback by Matthew Alford to cut the margin to 64-58. Luckey added another bucket and Arrington sank a three from the top to pull within 64-63.
 
The Chaps again trailed by a single point with 4:24 to go, but Lion Alex Cooper dropped in two daggers from beyond the arc to push UAFS to a 72-65 advantage. Holman recorded a three of his own one minute later to pull the Chaps to within a pair, but Youngblood was there to drain two free throws and a jumper to stretch the lead to 76-70 with under two minutes to play.
 
For LCU, Luckey joined Arrington with a team-high 18 points.
 
For UAFS, DaVaunta Thomas and Youngblood each provided game-highs of 22 points.
 
The Chaps return home for a pair of Heartland contests beginning with Texas-Permian Basin Thursday at 8 p.m. followed by St. Edward's Saturday at 3 p.m.