ODESSA, Texas (November 15, 2017) – Lubbock Christian University men's basketball had a mammoth task on their hands Wednesday night facing No. 6 University of Texas Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas. Though they attempted a 14-point comeback, the Chaps ultimately fell to the Falcons by a final score of 85-80. Junior guard Isaac Asrat had himself a monstrous game scoring 21 points on six three-pointers and a trio of free throws for Lubbock Christian.
 
It was Texas – Permian Basin that got onto the scoreboard first for the evening jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead over the Chaparrals. LCU quickly found their feet and roared back to steal the lead at 10-9 after a long-range triple by Jay Workman at the 13:33 mark of the opening half. Lubbock Christian's advantage was short-lived as UTPB responded with a 16-3 scoring run that ended at the 8:04 mark. LCU sophomore Kentton Williams marked his second bucket of the night to disrupt the Falcon's offense and cut the Chaparral deficit to 25-15 with 7:45 on the clock. Texas – Permian Basin answered with a field goal of their own to take their largest lead of the half at 12 points on a jumper by Amari Bryant. Stephen Lennox took possession before being fouled and heading to the line for a pair of Lubbock Christian free throws. After Lennox converted on both shots, the Chaparrals proceeded to throw down a 9-2 run that was highlighted by five consecutive points from Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath to bring the UTPB lead to 31-28 with 2:37 left in the half. Lubbock Christian gave up six more points in the period while scoring two more free throws setting the score to 37-30 in favor of the Falcons at halftime.
 
LCU once again got out to a slow first half shooting 33.3% from the field on 8-of-24 attempts. Williams and Gilbreath led the Chaps with seven points apiece in the period to keep LCU within striking distance. Jay Workman posted six points in the half on two of Lubbock Christian's three buckets from behind the arc.
 
Though the Chaparral defense held UTPB to 3-of-12 shooting from three-point range, the Falcons tallied a 45.2% (14-of-31) mark from the field in the half. James McPherson paved the way for Permian Basin accounting for 18 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.
 
The second half opened up with over a full minute of scoreless play before Daeshon Francis netted a couple of free throws for Texas – Permian Basin at the 18:55 mark. Just over a minute later, McPherson once again made his presence known with a triple that extended UTPB's lead to 14 points, 44-30, their largest of the night. The Chaps came back and moved the ball around before Marcos Schuster found Isaac Asrat, who had two points in the opening half, for a three-pointer to pump some life back into the LCU offense. UTPB tried quieting LCU down with a jumper from Bryant placing the score at 46-33 with 17:12 on the clock. Asrat was having none of that as he found his stroke and scored seven of the Chaparral's next nine points to bring Lubbock Christian within eight points of the Falcons at 50-42. The Chaps proceeded to trade baskets with UTPB before Kentton Williams split a pair of free throws for Lubbock Christian with 10:27 remaining. Asrat then nailed his fifth three pointer of the half before Workman knocked down a triple of his own to even the score at 65 with 7:05 to play. Brennen Fowler drained a go-ahead jumper to hand LCU their first lead since a 10-9 advantage in the first half. Williams followed with a long-range bucket from behind the arc giving the Chaparrals their largest lead of the game at 70-65. UTPB's McPherson evened the game back up at 75 after a pair of free throws at the 3:28 mark. Williams hit one final free throw for LCU giving the Chaps their final lead of the game, 75-74, before Josh Morris converted inside the paint for the Falcons to provide the game's final lead change. Asrat nailed his final trey of the night with 29 seconds left, but it was not enough as Texas Permian Basin went on to finish Lubbock Christian 85-80.
 
Asrat provided the second half heroics for LCU with 19 points in the period on 6-of-7 (85.7%) shooting from beyond the arc. Fowler accounted for nine points in the half while Williams worked in seven points of his own. Workman tacked on five points and four assists throughout the final 20 minutes.
 
Texas – Permian Basin got to the free throw line 37 times on the evening converting on 24 for a 64.9% free throw average. McPherson carried the Falcons with a game-high 36 points in addition to four rebounds and three assists. As a team, UTPB shot 47.4% (27-of-57) from the floor.
 
Asrat's season-high 21-point performance marked one of four Chaparral's to record double-scoring figures. Williams posted 14 points for himself while Workman and Fowler each tabbed 11 points. After a shaky opening half, LCU recorded a season-high 48.1% (26-of-54) performance from the field and 73.3% average from downtown. Lubbock Christian marked 17 points from the bench and turned 18 points off of turnovers.
 
The Chaparral's loss drops them to 0-3 record on the year for the first time in the Todd Duncan era. LCU will return to action Monday, Nov. 20 for their home opener against Randall University. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.