OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (7-10, 3-3) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (7-10, 3-3)
Saturday, January 20 - 3:00 PM
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
All-Time Series: OC leads 37-25




BATTLE OF THE BIRDS
Lubbock Christian University's Saturday afternoon scuffle pins the Chaparrals against Oklahoma Christian University in a Heartland Conference meeting at Rip Griffin Center. The Chaps will look to create a two-game win streak following a victory Thursday night against St. Edward's. Both teams head into the day with a 7-10 overall record and a 3-3 mark in Heartland Conference matches. Their identical record ties them for fifth place within conference standings.

THURSDAY REWIND
LUBBOCK, Texas (January 18, 2018) – Offensive outburst would be an understatement when talking about Lubbock Christian University's performance Thursday night against St. Edward's University. The Chaps were three points shy of the century mark as they downed the Hilltoppers 97-83 inside Rip Griffin Center. Five LCU players registered double-figures in the scoring column but were led by junior Isaac Asrat who went off for a game-high 23 points.
 
Both teams kick started their offense early with seven lead changes in the opening six minutes of the contest. Dorian Lopez knocked down a triple for the Hilltoppers at the 13:26 mark to give SEU a 19-16 advantage. However, Marcos Schuster put the Chaps back on top a minute and half later with a pair of free throws. LCU traded baskets with St. Edward's over the next four minutes until Brennen Fowler drained a mid-range jumper to put the Chaparrals up by five for their largest lead of the half. The Hilltoppers came back with a 19-4 scoring run giving SEU a 10-point lead with 2:17 to play in the opening period. Once again, Schuster provided the spark for LCU scoring five of the Chaps next seven points to close out the half and cut the St. Edward's lead to 44-41 at the break.
 
There were 13 lead changes and the score knotted up 10 times in the first half alone. Though St. Edward's went into the intermission with the lead and a 48.6% performance from the field, LCU proved their efficiency shooting 15-of-28 (53.6%) from the floor. Schuster was on a rampage for the Chaps, scoring 17 points in the period (went 6-for-7 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc). SEU managed to convert 14 points off of Lubbock Christian's 10 first half turnovers. Kobe Thompson was the only non-starter to jump in the first half scoring column after netting four free throws and a two-point bucket.
 
Although St. Edward's got on the board first with a layup to kick off the second period, Asrat quickly responded for LCU by drilling a three-pointer that leveled the score at 46-46. Two minutes later, Kentton Williams tied the ballgame for the 13^th and final time on a follow up tip-in that brought the score to 50-50. Lucas Doria immediately came back with put back of his own for the Hilltoppers to regain the lead. With 12:11 left to play, Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath provided a three-point dagger, putting the Chaps up 57-56 in what would prove to be the final lead change of the evening. After that, Lubbock Christian was able to step on the gas and nail six of their final seven field goals to finish the night with a 97-83 win.
 
The Chaparrals followed their stellar first-half shooting performance with an even more impressive 56.4% average in the second-half. After scoring just four points in the opening period, Asrat found his rhythm and scored 19 points in the final 20 minutes on 8-of-12 shooting and a trio of three-pointers. Brennen Fowler pulled down 10 points and 12 rebounds in the second half alone. All told, Lubbock Christian closed out the contest with a 55.2% (37-of-67) field goal average and 52.6% (10-of-19) performance from downtown. The Hilltoppers were overpowered on the glass allowing the Chaps to a 39-31 rebounding advantage.
 
Asrat's scoring barrage marks his eighth performance with 20 points or more this season. Jay Workman (19 points), Marcos Schuster (17 points), Fowler (14 points) and Gilbreath (10 points) rounded out the Chap players in double-scoring figures. Fowler also notched 16 rebounds giving him his third straight double-double and his seventh of the season.
 
Lubbock Christian moves to 3-3 in Heartland Conference standings and 7-10 overall. The win over the Hilltoppers also moves the Chaps to a 15-7 edge in the overall series against St. Edward's.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Lubbock Christian's 97-point explosion (from Thursday) is their largest scoring performance of the season. It was also their highest scoring contest since a 99-70 win over Rogers State inside Rip Griffin Center (Feb. 13, 2016).


HOME SWEET HOME
LCU has taken part in nine competitions at home this season, capturing a 6-3 record in those games. After losing their conference season opener to Arkansas Fort Smith, the Chaps have won their last three consecutive Heartland home matches. Lubbock Christian has outscored opponents by a 9.7 scoring margin on their home court.

SEEING DOUBLE
Brennen Fowler provided another mammoth performance Thursday night, recording 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. The junior's double-double outing against the Hilltoppers marks his seventh of the season and the 23^rd of his LCU career. Fowler now ranks second in the Heartland for double-double performances this season and has registered the feat in each of the past three consecutive contests.

OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY
The Chaps are coming off of an especially efficient outing at the free throw line against SEU, where they shot 13-for-15 from the stripe. Their 86.7% free throw average against the Hilltoppers tied a single-game high for the season. Further, LCU also nabbed a season-high 37 field goals against St. Edward's that led to a 55.2% shooting average. Lubbock Christian has recorded a team field goal average above 50% in seven games this season. The LCU squad is converting 47.5% of their jumpers from within the three-point arc. 


OC FACTS
- Oklahoma Christian is coming off of an impressive 82-78 victory over Heartland frontrunner Dallas Baptist Thursday night.
- Four of their 10 losses this season have come by a margin of five points or less.
- Will Lienhard ranks 13^th nationally, first in the Heartland, for total blocks on the season (42). Lienhard also ranks 14^th in NCAA Division II rankings for blocks per game (2.47). 
- Elijah Strickland leads the way for the Eagle offense averaging 18.1 points per game.
- OC is averaging 28 made field goals per game for a 44.7% average from the floor this season. They have produced 75.2 points per contest while allowing their opponents 75.6 points per game.

RIVALRY AGAINST OC
Lubbock Christian's rivalry against Oklahoma Christian runs deep, dating back to the 1970-1971 season. Since then, the Eagles have jumped to a 37-25 lead in the series. Despite the OC all-time advantage, the Chaparrals have won eight of the past nine meetings. Since becoming post-season eligible Heartland Conference members, LCU stands 7-1 against OC, with their most recent victory culminating in an 83-60 route of the Eagles inside Rip Griffin Center last season (Feb. 23, 2017).

PRIOR MEETING WITH OC
LUBBOCK, Texas (February 23, 2017) – Lubbock Christian University cashed in a commanding 83-60 victory over Oklahoma Christian University Thursday evening inside Rip Griffin Center. Senior Ridrell Holman's game-high 25 points were the key to the Chap's 23-point victory, which also marked head coach Todd Duncan's 100^th career-win. Marcus Arrington added to the already memorable night with five assists bumping himself up to fourth all-time in the Heartland Conference record books with 375 career-assists.
 
LCU came out hot by jumping to a quick 19-7 lead over the Eagles just six minutes into the contest. OC's Elijah Strickland answered with five consecutive points to bring the Lubbock Christian margin to 19-12. The Chaps proceeded to go on a 16-5 tear that was capped by a layup from Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath. Michael Grant split a pair of free throws at the 4:33 mark to allow the Chaparrals to double Oklahoma Christian's score at 40-20. The Eagles answered with a small 7-2 run, but senior Marcus Arrington converted on a last-second layup to give LCU a 44-27 lead heading into halftime.
 
Holman opened up the game with an 11-point tirade in the first half. Holman shot 66.7% (4-of-6) from the floor and 3-of-5 from downtown in the opening period of play. Brennen Fowler also shot 4-of-6 from the floor in the half but recorded all eight of his points from inside the paint. As a team, the Chaps shot a remarkable 62.1% (18-of-29) from the field and 63.6% (7-for-11) from beyond the arc. LCU blasted Oklahoma Christian on the boards 18-8, while holding the Eagle's offense to 36.4% (8-of-22) shooting in the half.
 
The second half was kicked off by Holman scoring five of LCU's first nine points, to open the Chap lead up to 22-points at 53-31. John Moon cut the Lubbock Christian lead to 18 points, 62-44, by converting a layup with 9:12 remaining. Tyler Rogers extended the Chaparral lead to 23 points at 68-45 with 7:28 left in the contest with four consecutive points. Michael Grant knocked down one of two free throws to give the Chaps a 30-point lead, their largest of the evening with just over two minutes to play. Oklahoma Christian scored the game's final seven points.
 
Holman followed up his first-half performance with 14 second-half points on another 4-of-6 shooting. Although not quite as potent as their first half, the Chaparral offense combined for a 45.8% (11-of-24) shooting mark in the final period. Marcus Arrington and Holman each drained two three-pointers to push the Chaps to 62.5% (5-for-8) from downtown in the half. Holman also led Lubbock Christian from the charity stripe by knocking down a perfect 4-for-4 allowing the Chaparral's to grab an 85.7% (12-for-14) free-throw mark in the period.
 
Keilan Horton (12 points) and John Moon (10 points) were the only Oklahoma Christian players to record double- figures for the night. As a squad, OC was held to just 37.8% shooting on 17-of-45 attempts.
 
The Chaps closed out the contest shooting 54.7% (29-of-53) from the floor and 63.2% (12-for-19) from three-point range. Brennen Fowler grabbed 11 of LCU's 33 rebounds for the game. Holman's game-high 25 points marks his fourth game this year scoring over 20 points in a contest. Marcus Arrington was the only other Chap to record double figures in the scoring category. In addition to his 12 points, Arrington also dished out five assists on the offensive end.