LUBBOCK, Texas (January 4, 2018) – Lubbock Christian University jumped back into the win column Thursday night defeating Texas A&M International 66-43 inside Rip Griffin Center for LCU's second largest winning margin of the season. The Chaparrals offensive efforts were led by Isaac Asrat who captured 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
 
Asrat pushed the tempo early scoring 12 of the Chaps first 19 points as LCU exploded to a 19-2 advantage in the opening eight minutes of play. Lubbock Christian's defense kept the pressure on Texas A&M International for the remainder of the half keeping the Dustdevils under 10 points until the 8:14 mark where TAMIU's Kamari Robinson netted a pair of free throws to close the Chaparral advantage to 30-11. Despite the Dustdevils 8-2 scoring run to close out the first half, LCU headed into the intermission with a 41-24 lead.
 
Texas A&M International were limited to nine buckets in the opening period for a 37.5% (9-of-24) team shooting average. Robinson and Brendan Ortiz led the way for the Dustdevils with nine points apiece in the half.
 
The Chaps were able to capitalize off of TAMIU errors in the first half forcing the Dustdevils into eight turnovers. LCU converted 11 fast break points. Asrat knocked down a 75% (6-for-8) field goal average to tally 14 points and push the Chaparrals to a 61.5% (16-of-26) first half shooting percentage.
 
LCU continued to pile it on the Dustdevils widening their lead to 20 points at 53-33 following a rim rocking dunk by Kentton Williams. The Chaps forced another eight turnovers out of TAMIU in the final 20 minutes while scoring 14 of their 25 second half points off of the Dustdevil's turnovers. Asrat and Jay Workman led the Chaparrals with seven points each. Though Lubbock Christian cooled down to a 34.6% (9-of-26) shooting average in the final period, their defense ramped things up even more holding Texas A&M International to 19 points in the second half.
 
Workman (12 points), Kentton Williams (11 points) and Marcos Schuster (10 points) joined Asrat in double-scoring figures for the evening. The Chaps closed the game out shooting 48.1% from the floor. They outscored the Dustdevils 32-16 inside the paint and 29-8 off of turnovers.
 
LCU improves to a 5-9 overall record and moves up to eighth place in Heartland standings with a 1-2 record against conference foes.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Lubbock Christian men put their seal on the night without allowing Texas A&M International to lead at any point throughout the contest. The Chap's most recently accomplished that feat with a 92-66 win at home over Oklahoma Panhandle State University (2/18/17) last season.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Chaparrals will have the opportunity to build on Thursday night's success as they take on St. Mary's University Saturday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center. Saturday's match will be another Heartland Conference tilt and is scheduled for a 3 p.m. tip.