LUBBOCK, Texas (November 20, 2017) – Lubbock Christian University pulled off their first win of the season Monday night over Randall University in a 92-68 result. Junior Isaac Asrat was locked in scoring a game high 31 points and nine rebounds. Asrat shot 8-of-11 from the field with all eight of his buckets coming from beyond the arc. Brennen Fowler, Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath and Marcos Schuster joined Asrat in the double-scoring figures category.
 
Randall University jumped on the board early with a layup after capitalizing on a missed LCU shot in the early seconds of the game. Gilbreath wasted no time contesting as he marched back down the court to knock down the Chap's first three-pointer of the night. Fowler jumped into the scoring column early as well for Lubbock Christian with a quick jumper of his own to extend the LCU lead. Randall answered with a triple to even the score up at 5-5. The teams then traded baskets for the next four minutes before Fowler showed his range and drilled a three-pointer to give the Chaps a lead at 16-13 with 13:36 left in the opening half. Xavier Hunter responded with five unanswered points for the Saints to give Randall their final lead of the game. Asrat then began to find his stroke and knocked down his second trey of the night to return the advantage to the Chaparrals at 19-18 for the final lead change of the game. Lubbock Christian began to enforce their will on Randall by going on a 16-4 run within the next four minutes to take a 32-22 lead with 8:33 remaining in the opening period. RU attempted to close the gap after a jumper by Kashus Lyons pulled the Saints within six points, 40-34, at the 4:15 mark. LCU then closed the half on an 11-4 streak to take a 51-37 lead at halftime.
 
Within the opening period, Asrat, Fowler, Schuster and Gilbreath had already tallied double-scoring figures. Asrat led the way with 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Fowler was not far behind as he added in 14 points of his own. Both Asrat and Fowler scooped up five rebounds each in the half for LCU. As a team, Lubbock Christian shot a scorching 6-of-12 from downtown in addition to 63.3% (19-of-30) from the field. The Chaparral squad also held the advantage on the glass outrebounding Randall 17-9 in the half.
 
Ben Collier worked to keep Randall in the game scoring 11 of the Saints 37 points in the opening period. Collier knocked down a 4-of-8 shooting mark in the half with three of his baskets coming from behind the three-point line. As a team, RU was held to 14-of-30 shooting (46.7%) from the field and 37.5% (6-of-16) from long-range.
 
Schuster opened up the offensive efforts for the Chaparrals with a jumper from inside the paint 1:19 into the second half. Randall was held scoreless in the second period until a three-pointer by Lyons at the 16:24 mark pulled the Saints to a 57-40 deficit. Isaac Asrat responded once again knocking down a triple just over a minute later to return the Chap lead to 20 points. Though LCU continued to create some more distance from Randall, the Saints would not go down quietly and even pulled within 15-points of the Chaparrals after a jumper by Antonio Wilson with 13:20 to play. Lubbock Christian proceeded to create a 15-3 run that was capped by a trio of free throws from Asrat to put LCU up 76-49. Zach Stepp made his way onto the court for LCU and knocked down his first points of the year with a trey just inside the final six minutes of play. Stephen Lennox netted a free throw at the 3:49 mark to give Lubbock Christian a 31-point lead, their largest of the night. Though the Saints were able to knock down a jumper with 18 seconds remaining, the Chaps cruised to their first victory of the season with a 92-68 finish.
 
Asrat upstaged his first half performance with 16 points in the final period. Lubbock Christian concluded the second period shooting 14-for-26 for a 53.8% mark from the field. Asrat notched four more triples to help the Chaparrals to a 6-of-13 mark (46.2%) from behind the arc in the second half. LCU picked up 19 rebounds in the half with 17 coming on the defensive end of the floor.
 
Randall finished the evening shooting 39.3% (22-for-56) from the floor and 10-of-26 (38.5%) from outside the arc. Lyons and Collier led the Saints with 11 points apiece, while Dante Lewis finished up front for RU with five rebounds.
 
Asrat's season-high 31 points came on 8-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc and 7-for-8 shooting from the charity stripe. His eight three-pointers ranks third all-time for three-point field goals made in a contest and has not been accomplished since Tyler Kennedy's performance against Mid-America Christian University (2/9/12). The record for most single-game Chaparral three-pointers was set in 1988 by Glenn Seale's 10 made three pointers (12/5/88).
 
As a team, LCU marked season-best averages in field goals made (58.9%; 33-of-56), three-point field goals made (48.0%; 12-of-25) and rebounds recorded (36). Fowler and Gilbreath converted 18 points each while Schuster tallied 16 points of his own. Lubbock Christian knocked down 42 points inside the paint and converted 23 points off of turnovers.
 
The Chaps move to 1-3 on the year and will have a quick night's rest before hosting Sul Ross State University Tuesday night inside Rip Griffin Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. following the Lady Chaps contest.