NORTHWOOD (MI) UNIVERSITY (0-5, 0-0 GLIAC) vs. LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (4-2, 0-0 Heartland)
Friday, November 25 - 2:00 PM (Central)
Roberto Clemente Coliseum (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Radio: Online Only
Tweet #LCUvsNUmi
 
TOURNAMENT TIME
Lubbock Christian University hopped on a plane and headed to Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Clasico. The Chaps play a pair of games in Puerto Rico, starting with Midland, Michigan based Northwood University. This will be the first ever meeting between the squads as well as LCU's first game away from the Rip Griffin Center this season. LCU finished the 2015-16 season with a 2-2 neutral site record.
 
Despite opening up the season with a 0-2 record, the Chaps have gone on a four game tear to improve to a 4-2 record. LCU's success can be attributed to many factors, but the most prevalent has been their presence in the paint against opponents. The Chaparrals have outrebounded their opponents in every game in addition to averaging a stellar 86.8 points per game.
 
CHAP ATTACK
Brennen Fowler, the current Heartland Conference Player of the Week, has been a nightmare for defenders this season. He is averaging a double-double with 15.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. In his last outing, Fowler converted 5-6 for 13 points against Our Lady of the Lake. The 6-7 sophomore has started in all six of LCU's contests and his 93 total points lead the Chaps.
 
Junior Marcos Schuster has provided a new element for the Lubbock Christian squad and has ripped nine steals in his first two games. Schuster has started in the last two contests for the Chaparrals and has led LCU scorers in each game. Schuster has also made his way to the free throw line 18 times and converted on 15 for an 83% free throw percentage.
 
Tyler Rogers has been a shark around the rim for Lubbock Christian. He has come off of the bench in four games to average 10.7 points per game. Rogers has dished out 10 assists and kept defenders on their heels with his ferocious dunks.
 
Freshman Jay Workman has averaged 25 minutes per game in addition to shooting 26-44 for a .591 field goal percentage. While only starting in two contests, Workman has proven to be another key player on Lubbock Christian's bench and scored a season-high 18-points in his latest performance against Our Lady of the Lake.
 
LAST GAME RECAP
LUBBOCK, Texas (November 21, 2016) - Lubbock Christian University closed out a six-game homestand Monday night against the previously unbeaten NAIA No.14 Our Lady of the Lake University. The Chap offense was on point as they scored over 90 points for the fourth game in a row. Marcos Schuster and Jay Workman co-led all scorers and combined for five of LCU's 10 three-pointers, and they helped the Chaps keep their win streak alive, defeating the Saints 93-67 in their final home game until Jan. 5, 2017.
 
Marcus Arrington nailed a three-pointer for the Chaps and kicked off a 10-5 run to start the game. Dilepso Blanco hit a mid-range jumper for the Saints to give OLLU a 14-12 lead at the 13:56 mark. Three minutes later, a Josh Santos three-pointer opened up Our Lady of the Lake's lead to four points at 21-17. LCU bounced back and Schuster hit a go-ahead trey with 6:38 left in the half, to give the Chaps their final lead of the game at 30-28. A Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath three-point dagger capped off a 9-2 run to close out the first period for LCU.
 
The Chaparrals led 50-39 at the break on 16-27 (59%) shooting and 6-12 from downtown. OLLU's aggressive defense sent Marcos Schuster to the charity stripe where he knocked down 7-8 free throws to help LCU shoot 12-14 (85%) from the line. Lubbock Christian had no problem breaking the Saints high-press and dished out 11 assists in the first period. The Chaparrals led for a total of 13 minutes in the first half.
 
Workman had the hot-hand out of the locker room and scored seven of the Chaps first 10 points in the first six minutes of the second period. Another Schuster three-pointer helped LCU extend their lead to 66-47. Brennen Fowler's final bucket of the evening gave Lubbock Christian a 29-point lead, their largest of the game. After that, the Chaparrals put the game in cruise control and eased their way to a 93-67 victory over the Saints.
 
Lubbock Christian held Our Lady of the Lake to 28 points in the second half. OLLU's 67 points were their lowest of the season and they were held to a 29% shooting percentage in the second half. LCU finished the game with four Chaps in double-figures, including Schuster and Workman who both scored 18 points. This was Schuster's second start of the season and his second time to lead Chap scorers. Freshmen Gilbreath and Workman combined for 31 of LCU's 45 bench points. Gilbreath drained a season-high three three-pointers, while Workman netted a season-high 18 points on 5-10 shooting.
 
TIMBERWOLVES FACTS
- Northwood heads to the Puerto Rico Clasico to play three matches. The Timberwolves lost their first contest in a tight 66-64 loss to No. 17-Washburn University.
- Northwood University competes in the Great Lakes Interscholastic Athletic Conference. The GLIAC is split into two divisions (North & South) and consists of 15 different teams. The Timberwolves were preseason picked to finish in eighth place of the North Division.
- NU has opened up their 2016-17 season with a 0-5 start. The last win that the Timberwolves grabbed was against Michigan Tech University (2/18/16) in a 73-63 victory.
- In their five games played, the Timberwolves are averaging 63.6 points, 36.6 rebounds and a .387 field goal percentage per game. Northwood is led by junior Matt Crowl's 12.2 points per game. Crowl has shot 51% from the field and has picked up 35 total rebounds on the season.
- Jeff Rekeweg is in his seventh season as the head coach of Northwood University. In his six years with the Timberwolves, Rekeweg has compiled 89 wins and has a 354-284 overall record in his 21-year career.