RANDALL UNIVERSITY (2-4) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-2)
Monday, November 14 - 7:00 PM                                             
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Radio: KJTV 950 AM/100.7 FM
All-Time Series: LCU leads 3-0
Tweet #LCUvsRU
 
BOUNCE BACK
The Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals, 0-2 for the first time since the 2014-2015 season, are seeking their first win of the season. In their previous contest, the Chaps went head-to-head with No.21 Colorado School of Mines and ultimately lost 78-74 due to the Orediggers successful three-point shooting. LCU is looking to turn things around as they take on Randall University, formerly Hillsdale Baptist, Monday night at 7 pm inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
LAST GAME RECAP
LUBBOCK, Texas – (November 12, 2016) The Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals took on their first ranked opponent of the season Saturday night inside Rip Griffin Center, and No. 21 Colorado School of Mines topped LCU 78-74 to close out the 2016 RMAC/Heartland Challenge. For the first time since the 2014-2015 season, the Chaparrals open up the season with a pair of losses. 
 
CSM (2-0) shot 51% (26-51) from the field and 13-of-24 (54.2%) from beyond the arc, with seven of their 13 three-pointers coming from Luke Schroepfer, who led all scorers with 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting.  Lubbock Christian spread their offense around as Brennen Fowler, Ridrell Holman and Isaac Cardona each posted double figures in scoring.
 
Fowler kicked off the scoring for the evening with a jumper from the paint. CSM answered with an 8-2 run before a massive dunk by Fowler evened the score at 8-8. The Orediggers splashed four straight three-pointers and a trio of free throws to cap a 12-point scoring run and a 22-14 lead with 13:07 left in the first half. There was a three-minute stretch where LCU was unable to close in on the Oredigger lead. The Chaps eventually got things rolling, with Fowler showing his range with a three-pointer followed with a field goal to diminish the CSM lead to 27-23.
 
CSM's Schroepfer simply could not be contained as he converted a layup and gave the Orediggers their largest lead of the half at 34-25. Lubbock Christian's Ridrell Holman finally warmed up and added five straight points before Fowler threw down a thunderous dunk to close the LCU deficit to two points at 34-32. Schroepfer scored the final nine points of the half for the Orediggers to give them a 44-42 lead at the break. For the second night in a row, LCU was beat in the first half by exceptional three-point shooting. The Orediggers closed out the half shooting 9-12 (75%) from the arc. Fowler's presence did not go unnoticed, as he posted 15 of the Chaps 42 first-half points. LCU's inside game was impressive, as they outscored the Orediggers 22-8 in the paint in the first half.
 
While the Orediggers led for a majority of the game, a layup by LCU's Isaac Cardona tied up the score at 55-55 with 13:19 left in the second half. Chuck Kendley converted a layup while being fouled and gave Lubbock Christian a 60-58 advantage. CSM answered right back with a 16-4 run that gave the Orediggers their largest lead of the night at 74-64. Although a Holman three-pointer allowed the Chaps to pull within two points, CSM kept LCU at bay for the rest of the night. Schroepfer capped the game with a pair of free throws to give the Orediggers a 78-74 victory.
 
Lubbock Christian stayed in the game with an 81% (17-21) mark from the free throw stripe. Fowler led LCU with 22 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals. Holman knocked down a trio of three-pointers on five attempts for 13 points. As a squad, the Chaps shot 26-54 for a 48.1% field goal percentage. Isaac Cardona added 10 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes played.
 
Lubbock Christian moves their attention to Monday night, where they will host Randall University inside Rip Griffin Center. Tip-off will be at 7 pm, with the Chaps looking to end a two game losing streak.
  
SUCCESS AGAINST THE SAINTS
Lubbock Christian has experienced a great amount of success against the Saints of Randall University, who won the 2016 NCCAA National Championship. The Chaps have won their last three meetings against RU. The most recent matchup between the squads showcased a compelling 85-49 LCU victory in the 2015-2016 season.
 
Lubbock Christian's two losses to open their 2016-2017 campaign mirrors their 2014-2015 season. Coincidentally, after going 0-2 in 2014, the Chaps faced off against Randall University (then Hillsdale Baptist) in their third game of the year and lit up the scoreboard with a season-high 92 points. LCU also shot a stellar 54% from the field and went 10-18 behind the arc.
 
FEARLESS FOWLER
Brennen Fowler lit up the night in LCU's last game against Colorado School of Mines. After a somewhat quiet opening night against Regis University, Fowler exploded for 22 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assist and two steals against the No. 21 Orediggers. He has 17 rebounds on the year and currently leads the Chaps in the category.
 
CHARITY POINTS
Lubbock Christian has showed poise at the free throw line. Chuck Kendley and Tyler Rogers have been aggressive in attacking the rim so far this season for LCU as they have led the way for the Chaparrals with seven made free throws each. As a team the Chaps have kept themselves in the game by shooting 75.7% from the line (28-of-37).
 
BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL SEASON
The Chaparrals are looking to turn a corner and find a winning rhythm this year. In their two opening games, LCU has successfully taken advantage of their size and outscored opponents 62-32 in the paint. Further, LCU's bench has been a lightning rod of energy in their first two games as they have added 68 points thus far.
 
FACTS ABOUT RANDALL UNIVERSITY
- Randall University was formerly known as Hillsdale Free Will Baptist University. This is the first season of play under the name change. The nickname "Saints" was also used by Hillsdale.
- The Saints are a part of the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II.
- Randall University has won back-to-back NCCAA National Championships in the 2015 and 2016.
- The Saints roster is packed with youth. Randall University only has three seniors competing this season.
- Head Coach Mark Berkeroff enters his fifth season at the forefront of Randall University men's basketball. He is 67-64 in his time there
 
PRIOR MEETING WITH RANDALL UNIVERSITY
LUBBOCK, Texas (November 30, 2015) – Four Chaparrals scored in double figures during a Lubbock Christian University 85-49 rout of Hillsdale Free Will Baptist, paced by a season-high 19 points from Tyler Rogers and a career-best 16 by Marcus Arrington Monday night inside the Rip Griffin Center.
 
The Chaps (5-1) scored 44 points in the paint compared to 16 by the Saints (5-4), and compiled 16 off of fast breaks while HFWB produced zero. Michael Grant recorded 12 points, his best output in a Chap uniform to date, and A.J. Luckey added 11.
 
Hillsdale went up 8-3 two minutes into the contest and again took the lead at 10-8 on a Brien Howard bucket at the 16:12 mark. Trey Sneed of the Saints tied the game at 12 apiece with 14 minutes to play in the first half. Brennen Fowler collected two scores in the paint and five rebounds in less than a minute to cap a 13-2 run to give the Chaps a 27-14 advantage, and LCU ended the half on a 15-2 run to double up HFWB 42-21 heading into the break.
 
HFWB's Kashus Lyons drilled a three 10 seconds into the second stanza before a baseline jumper and fast break layup by Rogers again put the Chaps up by 21. A free throw and three-pointer by Luckey gave LCU a 70-40 advantage with 9:20 remaining. Another Luckey three and jumper by Fowler extended the Chap lead to 79-46, and a pair of baskets by Scout Teal topped the 36-point LCU victory.