LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (19-10, 12-6) vs. DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY (20-9, 13-5 Heartland)
Saturday March 4, 2017 – 5:00 PM
John Q. Hammons Arena (UMAC) (Tulsa, Okla.)
Radio: KJTV AM950/100.7FM
All-Time Series: DBU leads 25-18
Tweet #LCUvsDBU | Tweet #HeartlandMBB
 
HISTORY BETWEEN THE SQUADS
The series between Lubbock Christian University and Dallas Baptist encompasses 43 meetings since both schools became four-year institutions. DBU holds a 25-18 series record over the Chaparrals, but LCU holds a 5-3 record over the Patriots since joining the Heartland Conference in the 2013-14 season. The Chaps have won both meetings against Dallas Baptist this season, with a 65-58 win on Dec. 17 and a 79-72 victory on Jan. 28 inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
A LOOK BACK AT THEIR LAST GAME
TULSA, Oklahoma (March 3, 2017) – Lubbock Christian University paved the way for a trip to the Heartland Conference Tournament Semifinals with an 84-69 victory over Rogers State University on Friday evening. Brennen Fowler led the way for LCU's offense by tying a season-high 22 points inside John Q Hammons Arena (UMAC). LCU advances to a 5 p.m. tip Saturday against No.1-seed Dallas Baptist.
 
Lubbock Christian jumped out to a quick 13-6 lead following a layup by Isaac Cardona just five minutes into the contest. Rogers State tried to produce an answer to the high-powered LCU offense and ultimately cut the Chap lead to four-points, at 27-23, with 7:12 left to play in the half. That turned out to be as close as the Hillcats would come in the period, as Brennen Fowler scored the Chaparral's last four points to allow Lubbock Christian to take a 43-36 lead at halftime.
 
LCU notched an impressive 56.7% (17-of-30) clip from the field in the opening half of play. Fowler posted eight points from inside the arc and six points from the free throw line for 14 first half points. Ridrell Holman shot 2-for-3 from behind the arc and 4-of-6 from the field for a 66.7% shooting average in the half.
 
JD Tisdale led RSU scorers in the half with 13 points and four rebounds. As a squad, RSU was sent to the free throw line a total of 16 times, in the half, and were able to convert on 14 attempts for an 87.5% average from the stripe.
 
The Chaparrals kicked off the second half scoring six of their first eight points from the free throw line opening up their lead to 51-40. Jeylyn Sharpe went on a small 7-3 scoring streak to cut the Chap advantage to seven points with 11:59 remaining. Brennen Fowler quickly answered and put LCU up 58-47. RSU's Baron Smith Jr. eventually knocked down a three-pointer to once again cut the Lubbock Christian lead to seven points at 69-62 with under four minutes remaining. Chaparrals held off remaining RSU scoring threats and claimed an 84-69 victory to finish out the first round of tournament play.
 
Tyler Rogers came up huge with 13 points, in the second half, on 1-of-3 shooting from the field and 78.6% (11-for-14) from the free throw line. After shooting 6-for-6 from the charity stripe in the first period, LCU followed up shooting 77.4% (24-for-31) in the second half. Holman and Rogers each grabbed five boards to lead the Chaps to a 25-12 rebounding edge over the Hillcats in the period. The Chaparral defense also held RSU to a meager 37.5% (12-of-32) field goal mark for the half and a 39.3% shooting average for the game.
 
LCU never gave up their lead throughout the entirety of the game. Overall, the Chaps outworked the Hillcats under the basket and outscored Rogers State 32-26 in the paint. Brennen Fowler led the way for LCU with 22 points and nine rebounds for the contest. Rogers (21 points), Holman (14 points), Schuster (13 points) and Jay Workman (10 points) were the only other chaps to enter double-scoring figures. As a team, Lubbock Christian shot 51% from the field and 81.1% (30-for-37) from the free throw line.
 
STAYING ALIVE
Lubbock Christian improved their win-streak to five games with an 84-69 victory over Rogers State in the quarterfinals of the Heartland Tournament. The LCU win was one of two upsets on the men's side of the bracket and was due in large part to the Chap's 81.1% (30-for-37) outing from the free throw line against the Hillcats.
 
HEARTLAND TITLE CONTENTION
The Chaps are now 1-1 in Heartland Conference postseason play after their win over Rogers State on Friday night. Their game against Dallas Baptist will mark the third meeting of the season. The prior two meetings against DBU have both ended in the Chap's favor. A win on Saturday would not only complete a three-game sweep of DBU, but would also punch LCU's ticket to the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship against either UA Fort Smith or St. Mary's University. So far in Heartland postseason games, the Chaps have averaged 81.5 points per game on 52.3% shooting.
 
FREE THROWS
LCU has made a habit of winning games from the line this season. The Chaparrals are ranked 11th in the nation with a 78.4% free throw average. Senior Tyler Rogers ranks eighth in the conference with an 83% mark from the charity stripe for the 2016-17 campaign. In their most recent game against RSU, Lubbock Christian shot 6-for-6 in the first half and 24-for-31 in the second half from the free throw line.
 
FROM THE FIELD
Lubbock Christian is averaging 48.1% from the field for the 2016-17 season. Brennen Fowler leads the squad with a 56.5% shooting average and 13.6 points per game. As a team, the Chaps are averaging 77.8 points per game and have shot above 50% from the field in their past five contests. Ridrell Holman (12.4), Tyler Rogers (11.9) and Marcos Schuster (11.4) all join Fowler in averaging double-scoring figures.
 
FIVE FACTS ABOUT DBU
- Head Coach Blake Flickner was named Heartland Conference Coach of the Year for the 2016-17 season.
- The Patriot offense ranks fourth in the nation in assists per game (19.8) as well as in the total assists category (554).
- DBU also ranks ninth nationally averaging 51.2% from the field as a team.
- Patrick Burke's 70.2% field goal average ranks first in the nation among the NCAA Division II field.
- Julian Miranda has notched a 2.79 assist to turnover ratio for the season, which ranks first in the Heartland and 21st nationally.
 
PRIOR MEETING WITH DBU
LUBBOCK, Texas (January 28, 2017) – After playing 10 of their last 12 games on the road, Lubbock Christian University returned home and extended their win streak to four games by defeating Dallas Baptist University 79-72 inside Rip Griffin Center.  Brennen Fowler led LCU in Saturday's Heartland Conference contest with a game-high 18 points and 12 assists for his eighth double-double of the season.
 
The Chaparrals opened the game on a 10-2 run covering the opening six minutes of the afternoon. The Patriots began closing the gap and even jumped within three-points, 18-15, after a triple from Julian Miranda with 10:38 in the period. Lubbock Christian responded with an 8-0 scoring streak to take an 11-point lead, 26-15, for their largest lead of the half. Fowler accounted for five of LCU's final seven points, which included a long three-pointer, to give the Chaps a 39-33 lead at the break.
 
Lubbock Christian was never really forced to play with their backs against the wall in the opening half. The closest the Patriots ever came was within two-points at the 1:12 mark after a three-pointer by Myles Johnson. The Chaps shot an even 50% (15-of-30) from the floor in the opening half and 44.4% from beyond the three-point line. Fowler led LCU with nine-points and six rebounds on 4-of-10 shooting and knocked down one of the Chaps four three-pointers for the half. Ridrell Holman added in eight-points on 75% (3-of-4) from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from downtown. Marcus Arrington was 3-of-3 from the field for six-points of his own.
 
Patrick Burke and Myles Johnson each posted eight points on 75% (3-of-4) shooting from the field. Collectively, DBU shot 54.2% (13-of-24) from the floor and 45.5% (5-of-11) from the three-point line.
 
Marcos Schuster opened up the second half with an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Chaps a 42-35 lead in the opening minutes. After a layup by DBU's Patrick Burke, Isaac Cardona sparked an 11-0 run that culminated in a 14-point LCU lead, their largest of the game, at 57-43 with 8:56 left to play. The Chaps then went on a three-minute scoring drought that allowed the Patriots to cut the LCU lead to 57-56. After Schuster knocked down a jumper, DBU's Amari Bryant drained a three-pointer to tie up the score at 59-59 for the one and only time of the afternoon. The Chaparrals finally found their footing and scored seven straight points to take a 66-59 lead. The Patriots were forced to foul on LCU's next six possessions and sent the Chaps to the free throw line for a total of 12 times. Lubbock Christian converted on 10 of their 12 final free throws to seal the LCU victory at 79-72. The Chaps last 11-points came from the free throw line while their final field goal came with 2:14 left to play.
 
The second half was really the same story, different chapter for the Chaparrals. LCU combined for a 48% (12-of-25) shooting mark in the half. Tyler Rogers went on a 12-point tear on 60% (3-of-5) shooting and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Marcos Schuster was close behind with 11-points and three assists. Fowler also added a quiet nine-points in the half in addition to six rebounds. LCU's was sent to the charity stripe a total of 17 times in the second period and converted on 14 for an 82.4% team average.
 
Bryant carried the Patriot offense with 15-points, scoring all 15 points in the second period. As a squad, Dallas Baptist shot 43.3% (13-of-30) from the field and 28.6% (4-of-14) from behind the arc. The DBU bench accounted for 24 of the Patriots 39 second-half points. Overall, Miranda (13 points), Burke (12 points) and Myles Johnson (12 points) joined Bryant in double figures. 
 
The Chaps had four players finish in double figures in points. Rogers finished with 17 points, and Schuster and Holman each had 11 points to join Fowler. Holman, Fowler and Rogers combined to go 5-of-7 from long range, as LCU was 6-for-15 (40%) from three-point range.