DALLAS, Texas (December 17, 2016) - Lubbock Christian University tipped off their Heartland Conference schedule coming back from a 13-point second half deficit and stealing a 65-58 victory over Dallas Baptist University at Burg Center in LCU's lowest scoring victory of the year.
 
Tyler Rogers proved to be the X-factor for the Chaps with 11 of his game-high and season-high 15 points coming within the last five minutes of the contest. Marcus Arrington was right behind Rogers with a season-high 14 points, team-high eight rebounds and four assists. Ridrell Holman added in 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting with six points coming from behind the arc. The Chaps proved once again that they are a strong second-half team, as they were held to 21 first half points before erupting for 44 second-half points. Lubbock Christian shot 13-of-17 (76.9%) from the free throw line.
 
Lubbock Christian had a slow start to the afternoon, allowing the Patriots to jump out to an early 18-8 lead six minutes into the game. A layup by Tyler Rogers and a three-pointer by Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath cut DBU's lead to five at the 10:40 mark of the first period. Brennen Fowler knocked down his first bucket of the game to cut the Chap's deficit to three points at 21-18 with 7:05 left in the half. The Patriots responded scoring eight of the final 11 points in the half to take a 29-21 lead at halftime.
 
The Chaps 21 first-half points were a feat that had not occurred since a 61-49 loss last season at Texas A&M International (12/17/15) in Laredo, Texas (ironically last season's Heartland Conference opener). Dallas Baptist shot 12-25 (48%) before the break with eight points coming from Patrick Burke. JT Harris grabbed five first half boards to give the Patriots a 20-9 rebounding advantage over the Chaparrals. As a team, Lubbock Christian shot 27.6% (8/29) from the field and 2-of-8 from behind the three-point line in the first half.
 
DBU picked up where they left off in the first half as Patrick Burke scored five unanswered points before a mid-range jumper from Arrington disrupted the Patriots rhythm. Burke's final bucket of the afternoon gave Dallas Baptist a 13-point lead at 36-23 (their largest lead of the game). A Fowler jumper sparked a 10-0 LCU run and cut DBU's lead to 36-33 with 16 minutes left to play. The Patriots were able to keep their distance from the Chaps until Ridrell Holman drained a jumper from downtown to give Lubbock Christian their first lead of the game, at 47-46, with 6:13 left to play. DBU stole the lead right back, however, with a bucket from Boy Van Vliet. The lead would change two more times until Tyler Rogers began his late game tirade, on a pair of free throws, to put Lubbock Christian up for the final time at 53-51. A layup by Arrington put the Chaparrals up 61-55 with 2:07 left in the contest. Although DBU remained persistent, it was Holman that put the nail in the coffin by splitting a pair of free throws to give LCU the 65-58 victory.
 
Lubbock Christian appeared to be a new team as they came out of the locker room after halftime. Rogers and Arrington each netted 13 points to push the Chaps to 15-of-24 (62.5%) shooting in the second half. The Chaps also had more success getting to the free throw line with 10-of-13 (76.9%) shooting from the charity stripe. Arrington picked up six of his nine rebounds after the break and helped LCU to an 18-10 rebounding edge. The Chaparrals also improved from behind the arc by going 4-of-6 from downtown in the second half. Marcos Schuster had two of LCU's second half three-pointers.
 
Dallas Baptist finished the second period shooting 3-of-14 (21.4%) behind the arc and 9-of-29 (31%) from the field. Patrick Burke led the Patriots and picked up three rebounds and seven of his 15 points after halftime.
 
Coming into the contest, Dallas Baptist forced their opponents into 19.4 turnovers per game. Lubbock Christian took care of the ball and limited themselves to just 11 turnovers, while forcing DBU into 17 turnovers. As a team, LCU snagged a season-high 11 steals. Of those 11 steals, Schuster and Jay Workman picked up three steals each. Dallas Baptist (4-5, 0-1) was still able to outrebound the Chaparrals 30-27 which marks just the second time this season that Lubbock Christian has been beaten on the boards (the first of was against Northwood University on Nov. 25). In both instances, the Chaps were still able to pull off the victory. The win over the Patriots marks the first time in head coach Todd Duncan's tenure at LCU that the Chaps were able to defeat the Patriots in Dallas (LCU's first win at DBU since joining Heartland Conference). LCU also moved to 2-2 all-time in Heartland Conference openers and are 1-1 against DBU in conference openers.
 
The Chaps (7-4, 1-0) will enjoy their Christmas break as they look ahead to New Year's weekend with a pair of games, beginning with a meeting at St. Mary's on New Year's Eve (Dec. 31). Tip off will be at 3:00 pm inside Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas.