TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (14-7, 8-3) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (12-8, 6-4 Heartland)
Thursday, February 2, 2017 – 8:00 PM
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Television: Fox 34 News Now/American Sports Network
Radio: KJTV AM950/100.7FM
All-Time Series: LCU Leads Series 4-3
Tweet #LCUvsTAMIU   | Tweet #HeartlandMBB
 
HISTORY BETWEEN THE SQUADS
Lubbock Christian and Texas A&M International met once earlier this year, in Laredo,Texas, where the Dustdevils defeated the Chaps 67-64 (Jan. 2, 2017). The squads have met a total of seven times with LCU holding a 4-3 advantage over TAMIU since the 2013-14 season.
 
A LOOK BACK AT THEIR LAST GAME
WICHITA, Kan. (January 30, 2017) – Despite a 21-point performance from Marcos Schuster, the Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals were unable to completely rally back from a 14-point second half deficit and had a four-game win streak snapped in a 77-75 loss to Newman University on Monday night in Heartland Conference competition inside Fugate Gymnasium.
 
Schuster posted a game-high 21 points in the game (9-for-10 from the free throw line), with 15 points coming in the second half. Brennen Fowler (14-points) and Tyler Rogers (13-points) were the only other Chaps in double figures offensively.
 
Isaac Cardona scored five of LCU's first seven-points to keep the Chaps within a one-point range of Newman at the 14:23 mark. The Jets then widened the gap on Lubbock Christian by scoring seven unanswered points to take a 15-7 advantage. It was part of a 15-4 run, which followed a 3-0 LCU lead in the game's ugly start. The teams combined to open the game 1-of-13 from the field (LCU was 1-of-7) before the 15-4 run. The Chaps attempted to close the gap, when trailing 15-7, but they were unable to get closer than three-points for the rest of the half. The Jets scored six of the final nine points of the period to take a 40-32 lead at the break.
 
Brennen Fowler led the Chaps in the first period with eight-points on 66.7% (4-of-6) shooting from the floor. Although LCU was able to capture a 41.9% field goal mark in the half, they were rather cold from the three-point line. The Chaparrals were 23.1% (3-of-13) from downtown. LCU was unable to get to the charity stripe in the half as well. Schuster, Cardona and Ridrell Holman each knocked down a free throw to limp the Chaps to a 42.9% (3-for-7) average from the stripe. Each squad was also handed a technical foul in the opening period. Newman's head coach (Mark Potter) was T'd up with 6:27 left in the period, while LCU head coach Todd Duncan received his with 19-seconds to play in the half.
 
Daniel Nwosu had a team leading 11-points in the first half on 3-for-4 shooting from downtown and an 80% (4-of-5) average from the field. Newman shot 48.1% from the field in the half and an impressive 53.8% (7-of-13) from behind the arc. Like the Chaps, the Jets were only sent to the free throw line a total of seven times in the period. However, unlike LCU, Newman was able to knock down all seven of their attempts from the charity line.
 
Newman wasted no time jumping out to a 14-point lead, 49-35, just four minutes into the second period. The Chaps were unable to close ground on the Jets until Schuster rattled in a pair of free throws to cut the Newman lead to three, 59-56 with 7:30 left to play. Newman responded with seven of the next nine points, capped by a trey from Christian Deyoung to push the Jets to a 66-58 advantage. Newman's Taylor Schieber knocked down a pair of free throws to keep the Chaps at an eight-point deficit, 73-65, with 1:20 left in the ball game. LCU was able to close in on the Jets with a triple from Schuster to put the score at 75-72 in favor of Newman with 11-seconds to play. Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Chaps would get until a last second three-pointer by Lubbock Christian's Jay Workman dropped the Chaparral's deficit to two-points. Unfortunately, Workman's effort was not enough as the Jets were able to hang on for the 77-75 victory over the Chaps.
 
Schuster and Rogers woke up and combined for 26 of LCU's 43 second half points. Schuster's 15 points came on 3-of-6 shooting from the floor and 8-for-8 shooting from the free throw line. Tyler Rogers was perfect as well from the free throw stripe by nailing all four of his attempts. Rogers also shot 42.8% (3-of-7) from the field in the half. In total, LCU knocked down a 45.8% (11-of-24) mark from the field while shooting 94.4% (17-for-18) from the free throw stripe in the second period.
 
Taylor Schieber unleashed in the final half by dropping 17-points on 60% (3-of-5) shooting from downtown and 71.4% (5-of-7) shooting from the field. Schieber also added four free throws on seven attempts in the period. The Jets scored 37 second half points in the shooting 47.8% from the field and 66.7% (10-for-15) from the stripe. Schieber (20-points), Nwosu (17-points) and Kevin Bryant (10-points) were the only Jets players to finish the game in double-scoring figures. The Jets closed out the contest shooting 48% (24-of-50) from the field and 44.4% (12-of-27) behind three-point range.
 
Senior Ridrell Holman led Lubbock Christian's effort on the boards with a career-high 10 rebounds. In total, LCU posted a 43.6% shooting average for the game and a 36.8% effort from behind the three-point line. Schuster shot a total of 9-for-10 from the stripe and helped push the Chaps to an 80% (20-for-25) free throw average for the night.
 
NATIONAL AUDIENCE
The Chaparrals are used to playing for a television audience, however the contest against TAMIU feels slightly different. Thursday night's tilt will be broadcast to a national audience on the American Sports Network. This will be the second consecutive year and LCU's first time ever to host a nationally televised game. Last season, the Chaps were part of a double-header at Arkansas Fort Smith that was picked up by the American Sports Network.
 
CLOSE CALLS
LCU has made a habit of hanging close in their losses this year. This season, the Chaps have lost a total of eight games and seven of them have been by single-digits. Six of their eight losses have come by four points or less. On two occasions, Lubbock Christian has outshot an opponent and still lost. Their game on Monday night was their most recent heartbreaker, as they were defeated 77-75 at the hands of Newman University.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The Chaparrals are ready to see some familiar faces in the crowd this year. They have been banished to the road for a majority of the first half of their conference schedule and played 11 of their prior 14 games away from Rip Griffin Center. Not only is LCU ready to kick off their Homecoming Weekend, the Chaps have consistently performed better when playing at home this season. Lubbock Christian is 2-1 at home against Heartland opponents for the year. In those three conference bouts, Tyler Rogers has posted a 66.7% shooting average from the field. Overall this season, LCU is 6-3 at home, where they hold a 10.1 scoring average over their opposition. Comparatively, the Chaps only hold a 1.4 scoring margin over opponents while playing on the road this season. The Chaps have consistently dished the ball better at home as well, by averaging of 15.4 assists per game inside Rip Griffin Center. Lubbock Christian averages 10.5 assists per game away from home.
 
NO REST FOR THE WEARY
LCU will eventually be able to claim that they have logged some minutes on the week. The Chaparrals were supposed to travel the Wichita, Kan. on Jan. 14 for a bout with Newman University. However, Mother Nature had other plans for LCU. An ice storm in the plains forced the Chaps to postpone their game with Newman and reschedule it for Monday. With that Monday night game, the LCU squad was forced to hop on the bus and make a late return to Lubbock in the early hours of Jan. 31st. The postponement gives LCU four games over a seven-day stretch.
 
MILESTONES
- Isaac Cardona has 871 career-points in his four-year tenure. The senior is now just 29-points away from 900.
- Tyler Rogers has posted 847 points in his time with the Chaps.
- Marcus Arrington is eight assists shy of 350 career assists. Arrington is currently averaging 3.5 assists per game.
 
FIVE FACTS ABOUT TAMIU
- The Dustdevils are currently standing first in the Heartland Conference with an 8-3 record (14-7 overall). TAMIU is also ranked 10th in the South Central region.
- Texas A&M International's three-point defense has been impressive so far. The Dustdevils have a 30.6 three-point field goal percentage, which ranks first in the Heartland and 11th in the nation.
- The TAMIU defense has ripped 181 total steals this year, putting them 25th nationally in the category.
- Since Todd Duncan took over the helm at Lubbock Christian, Texas A&M International is one of three teams (all-time during Duncan's tenure) to hold the Chaps to under 50 points.
- TAMIU has played a majority of their games in Laredo this year. Of their 14-7 overall record, the Dustdevils are 10-2 at home, 1-2 at neutral sites and just 3-3 in true away contests.
 
PRIOR MEETING WITH TAMIU
LAREDO, Texas (January 2, 2017) - Lubbock Christian University fell to Texas A&M International in a game that featured four Chaparrals in double-scoring figures. LCU's Ridrell Holman matched a season-high in points with 17, but it was not enough, as they fell 67-64 Monday night in a Heartland Conference tilt.
 
LCU's offense was extremely balanced, as Marcos Schuster and Tyler Rogers each picked up 13 points while Brennen Fowler posted 10 points in 12 minutes played. Holman came up huge for the Chaps, as he tacked on 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Lubbock Christian shot 38.6% (22/57) from the field and 87.5% (14/16) from the free throw line. Rogers was a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe.
 
The Chaparrals hit the court running and blitzed out to a 13-3 lead five minutes into the game. The 10-point LCU lead would be their largest of the game. Lubbock Christian was able to keep them at a distance for the remainder of the half until a layup by Jake Eynon pulled TAMIU within one at 22-21 with 4:17 left in the first period. Rogers drained a pair of free throws to return the Chap lead to three, but a layup by Bunja Yaboe and a couple of free throws by Jordan VanDekop handed the Dustdevils their first lead of the evening at 25-24. TAMIU ended the half with Kenny Hatch stealing the ball with two second remaining and nailing a buzzer beating three-pointer to give the Dustdevils a 31-27 halftime lead.
 
Texas A&M International narrowly grabbed the edge on the boards in the first half, outrebounding LCU 16-14. Although both teams mirrored each other with four three-pointers and nine made field goals, the Chaps shot more efficiently. Lubbock Christian shot 36.4% (4/11) from behind the arc and 37.5% (9/24) from the field, while the Dustdevils shot 57.1% (4/7) from three-point land and 28.1% (9/32) overall. Sophomore Brennen Fowler, LCU's leading rebounder, played only two minutes before picking up two quick fouls forcing him to sit the rest of the half. The Dustdevils had 10 points in the half off 10 LCU turnovers.
 
Yaboe turned a quick layup at the beginning of the second half to open the Dustdevil lead to six points before the Chaps began pecking away. Holman drained a trey followed by a layup to put LCU within one-point, 33-32, at the 17:48 mark. Rogers threw down a monstrous dunk to continue what would ultimately be a 13-0 run by the Chaparrals. Brennen Fowler converted three points the old fashioned way to give Lubbock Christian an eight-point lead, their largest of the second half, at 43-35 with 15:02 left in the game. TAMIU remained persistent and ultimately grabbed the final lead change of the night on a three-pointer by Yaboe. Yaboe's long-range triple gave the Dustdevils a 49-48 advantage with 8:45 left to play. The Chaps were able to tie the game up three more times, but Texas A&M International's Arthur Santanna netted a final free throw to hand LCU a 67-64 loss.
 
On paper, Lubbock Christian dominated the second half. The Chaps knocked down 13 field goals while dishing out 11 assists. LCU was also a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line, while the Dustdevils shot 73.3%(11/15) from the stripe. In total, the Chaparrals were called for 14 second half fouls while A&M International was whistled for nine. LCU also owned a 15-13 rebounding advantage in the second period.
 
Bunja Yaboe was the saving grace for the Dustdevils, as he erupted for 21-second half points on 9-of-10 shooting. Only two other players got on the board in the second period for A&M International. VanDekop went 2-of-4 from inside the arc, while Denzel Bellot shot 1-of-4. Yaboe's 90 percent shooting performance pushed TAMIU to 52.2% (12/23) from the field in the second half.