ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY (8-2) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (4-7)
Tuesday, December 19 - 7:00 PM
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
All-Time Series: Angelo State leads 19-6



 
RIGHTING THE SHIP
Lubbock Christian University will look to continue their success at home Tuesday night with a South Central Region showdown against Angelo State University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center. The Chaps have had no easy task to begin their 2017 campaign having played five nationally ranked programs within their first 11 games. Though Angelo State is not currently ranked, they have jumped out to an 8-2 overall record this season as well as a 2-1 record within the competitive Lone Star Conference. Their only losses have come back-to-back at the hands of Lubbock Christian (11/25/17) and then No. 20/23 Texas A&M – Kingsville (11/28/17). LCU, who are 4-7 overall this season, are averaging 75.5 points per game on the offensive side through their first 11 contests. The Chap squad has posted a 47.6% average from the field and 40.3% mark from behind the arc.

SATURDAY REWIND
LUBBOCK, Texas (December 16, 2017) – Lubbock Christian University improved to a 4-7 overall record Saturday afternoon following an 81-78 win over Cameron University inside Rip Griffin Center. The Chaps knocked down a season-high 23 free throws in the victory and finished the afternoon shooting 53.1% (26-of-49) from the field. Isaac Asrat led the way for the Chaparrals with a game-high 23 points. Brennen Fowler added in his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Chaps found the basket early jumping out to a 12-6 lead over the Aggies within the opening six minutes of play. Cameron mounted a comeback and cut the LCU lead to a one-point margin on two occasions before CU's Johann Tate nailed a triple to tie the score up at 17-17 with 11:38 to play in the period. Jay Workman and Fowler stepped in for Lubbock Christian and regained a four-point lead for the Chaparrals with back-to-back buckets. The Aggies remained persistent and took a 24-23 lead, their first of the afternoon, after a jumper from JV Long found the net. Zach Dumas extended the Cameron lead to three, but that would be as far as the Aggies would get for the entirety of the contest. Asrat found his stroke and tacked on six of the Chap's next eight points, putting Lubbock Christian up 34-32 with two minutes left in the half. Rashaan Proctor stepped up next to put his stamp on the contest taking the ball from behind the arc and driving the lane for a one-handed jam. Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath closed out the half for LCU with a pair a of free throws to give the Chaparrals a 41-35 advantage heading into the locker room.
 
Asrat led the charge for Lubbock Christian in the opening period with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. Despite shooting 3-of-8 from beyond the arc, the Chaps closed out the first half with a 53.3% (16-of-30) field goal average. Fowler and Gilbreath were right behind Asrat in the scoring column with seven points each. The LCU squad out-rebounded the Aggies 19-15 while also outscoring Cameron 18-8 inside the paint.
 
CU was kept in the game with their three-point play where they knocked down five of their 11 field goals from behind the arc. All nine of Delano Jones' nine-points came from downtown as he led the Aggies scoring efforts in the half. Cameron was limited to 11-of-28 (39.3%) from the field, but captured a 62.5% mark from three-point range.
 
Stephen Lennox kicked off LCU's offense in the second period with a mid-range jumper. Jones responded with five straight points for Cameron cutting the Lubbock Christian lead to 43-40. Gilbreath remained composed for the Chaps and knocked down his second three-pointer of the afternoon to elevate LCU to an eight-point advantage with 12:02 on the clock. Four minutes later Gilbreath was at it again knocking down a free throw that put the Chaparrals up 66-52 for their largest lead of the game. Lubbock Christian managed their double-digit lead until Long converted a layup with 1:36 remaining bringing the Aggies within nine points, 75-66. Dumas and Tyus Momoh then combined for back-to-back Cameron three-pointers to close the gap at 75-72 in favor of LCU. Momoh scored Cameron's next to baskets before Long tucked away another layup for the Aggies final points of the contest. Asrat was inbounded the ball for Lubbock Christian with 11 seconds remaining forcing CU to foul and send him to the free throw line. Asrat split the free throws, but that was enough to hand the Chaparrals an 81-78 victory.
 
Asrat tacked on another 10 points in the second half to help Lubbock Christian to a 52.6% (10-of-19) field goal mark in the period. The Chaparrals were sent to the free throw line 25 times in the final half where they drained 17 of their opportunities for a 68% average. Kentton Williams led the Chaps with six second-half rebounds that pushed LCU to a 20-15 advantage on the boards.
 
Jones led the Aggies for the afternoon with 20 points on six three-pointers and a pair of free throws. Jones was one of four Cameron players to record double-scoring figures for the game. Overall, CU shot 39.1% (25-of-64) from the field and 73.9% (17-of-23) from the charity stripe.
 
LCU recorded a season-high 23 free throws on 34 attempts for a 67.6% average in the win. The Chap's 53.1% shooting mark was once again highlighted by Asrat who finished with 23 points for his 11^thconsecutive game in double-scoring figures. Gilbreath (13 points), Fowler (12 points) and Marcos Schuster (11 points) joined Asrat with double-figures.

ON THE LINE
Lubbock Christian last played three nights ago against Cameron University, where they logged an impressive performance from the free throw line. LCU was sent to the charity stripe a total of 34 times against the Aggies, converting on 24 for a season-best single-game made free throws mark. The Chaps are making their way to the stripe 20.9 times per game while scoring on 14.8 of those attempts. The team free throw percentage stands at 70.9% for the year. Isaac Asrat leads the Chaparrals with 37 free throws made on 45 attempts for an 82.2% average.
 
RIP GRIFFIN REVENUE
The Chaparrals have enjoyed a majority of their success when playing at home this season. Of their four contests inside Rip Griffin Center, LCU has won on three occasions by an average margin of 13.6 points. The Chap squad has registered a 47.6 field goal percentage inside the Rip this season while also outrebounding opponents 160-133 through those four contests.
 
UNDER THE RIM
LCU has attacked the paint throughout their first 11 games of the season, averaging 31.8 points per contest inside the paint. In six of their 11 games, the Chaparrals have scored 30 points or more from inside the key. Brennen Fowler has recorded three double-double performances and is one of three Chaps to achieve the feat this season.
 
ASU FACTS
- Angelo State ranks 13th nationally for field goal percentage with a 50.7% mark.
- ASU's most recent loss came against Texas A&M University – Kingsville. Since then, the Rams have won two straight games in double-digit fashion.
- Ja'Michael Brown stands at the forefront of the Angelo State offense averaging 16.2 points per game.
- Brown (46) and James Kirksey (32) have combined for 78 of ASU's 158 assists on the season. Angelo State's offense is dishing out 15.8 assists per game.
- Like the Chaps, ASU's most recent match came at home against Cameron University. The Rams handed the Aggies an 81-58 loss.

RIVALRY AGAINST ASU
Lubbock Christian's showdown against Angelo State will be the second meeting of the season. The Chaps won less than one month ago in a 69-65 result on the road at ASU's Thanksgiving Classic (11/25/17), handing the Rams their first loss of the year. Angelo State holds a 31-6 advantage over LCU in the all-time series. When junior college seasons are excluded, ASU holds a 19-6 edge over the Chaps.

PRIOR MEETING WITH ASU
SAN ANGELO, Texas (November 25, 2017) – Lubbock Christian University closed out their fourth game of the week on a high note with a 69-65 victory over Angelo State University, in San Angelo, Texas, to hand the Rams their first loss of the season. The Chaparrals were elevated on the shoulders of Brennen Fowler who flirted with a double-double and posted 24 points and nine rebounds. Isaac Asrat finished right behind him tallying 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting and a game-high four three pointers.
 
Angelo State streaked out to a quick lead after scoring the game's first nine points. The Chaps responded with eight points of their own to cut into the Angelo State lead. ASU continued to keep LCU at bay and even stretched their lead to an eight-point margin, 20-12, with 9:37 left in the half. LCU pulled within two after a Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath layup with 5:30 on the clock. The Rams came back with a 7-2 scoring run to return their lead to 31-24 with just under three and a half minutes to play in the period. Gilbreath marked the last points of the half on an and-one situation. The final 2:54 played out with neither team scoring, allowing the Rams to head into halftime with a 31-27 lead over the Chaparrals.
 
Lubbock Christian forced Angelo State into seven turnovers in the half, but only converted once for a two-point bucket. Though LCU was limited to 36.7% (11-of-30) shooting from the field, the Chaps remained in striking distance by holding the Rams to 12-of-28 from the floor in the opening period. Asrat led LCU with nine points after knocking down three of his eight attempts and one of the Chaparral's two free throws. The Chaparral defense limited ASU to three triples for a 30% average from beyond the arc.
 
Ja'Michael Brown led Angelo State's offensive efforts in the opening period with 12 points after going 5-for-10 from the floor. The Rams out performed Lubbock Christian on the boards by a 21-16 margin. James Kirksey picked up six rebounds, four of which came on ASU's defensive end. Angelo State recorded 16 of their 31 points first half points from inside the paint.
 
Kentton Williams sparked a 7-1 scoring run to open up the second half for Lubbock Christian giving the Chaps their first lead of the contest. Angelo State came back with five straight points to reestablish a three-point lead at 39-36 with 14:08 remaining. Fowler connected two minutes later on a mid-range jumper to give LCU a 43-41 advantage for the final lead change for the evening. Lubbock Christian continued to push the tempo and even extended their lead to a 56-44 margin with 9:16 remaining. ASU pulled within three-points three separate times within the final 2:30, but a go-ahead free throw by Fowler sealed the 69-65 victory for LCU.  
 
Fowler had the hot hand in the second period converting on 7-of-8 from the field for an 87.5% field goal mark. Asrat added in 14 points and five rebounds of his own on a 5-for-8 performance from the field. After a slow first period, Lubbock Christian exploded for a combined 68% (17-of-25) second half shooting mark. On defense, the Chaps held Angelo State to a trio of three-pointers and a 36.7% shooting performance in the final period.
 
LCU concluded the game with a 50.9% shooting average while holding the Rams to season-low performances from the field (39.7%) and from three-point range (20%). Fowler led the Chaparrals with a game-high 24 points. Asrat's 23 points marked his fourth contest of the year with 20 points or more. Williams distributed well for Lubbock Christian and led the squad with four assists. Despite being down for the entire first period, the Chaps bounced back and outscored ASU by a combined 34-28 margin from inside the paint.