CANYON, Texas (November 23, 2018) – Jaylan Williams connected on six three-pointers and University of Central Oklahoma benefited off Williams' 18 points and a 21-8 scoring advantage in points off turnovers to open play at the Pak-A-Sak Thanksgiving Classic with a 68-63 win over Lubbock Christian University Friday night inside First United Bank Center.
 
The game opened with a scoring pace of a soccer game. Neither team had a field goal through the opening 3:38 of the game and the first four points of the game were off free-throws. The Chaps missed their first seven shot attempts and did not register a field goal until seven minutes into the game. By that time, UCO had built a 12-1 lead. Once Silas Crisler's three-pointer marked LCU's first field goal of the game, the Chaparrals were able to get a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 12-8. The Bronchos responded with a 10-2 run and extended their lead to 22-10 with 8:30 left in the half.
 
UCO led as much as 32-18 before taking a 35-22 lead into the halftime break. Adarius Avery led UCO with 11 points in the half. LCU shot a woeful 26.3% (5/19) in the first half, with Isaac Asrat leading their team in points (6) without a field goal recorded. LCU had half of their 22 points from the field and the other half from the free-throw line.
 
The Bronchos missed their first five shot attempts of the second half and the Chaps matched their first half field goal total with baskets on five of the first seven shots of the second half. Three of the field goals were by Asrat, who had a pair of three-pointers in the span, and Brennen Fowler had the other two, capping the span with a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 43-36 seven minutes into the half. LCU cut the deficit to five points on two occasions, but UCO later countered with a 9-2 run to get the lead to 64-50 with 3:41 remaining. Crisler provided LCU a final hope, hitting a three-pointer to start a 9-0 run for a 64-59 deficit, but LCU would run out of time. UCO did not a have a field goal over the last 3:41 of the game.
 
The Chaps connected on seven three-pointers in the second half (7-of-15, 46.7%). They held UCO to shoot 37.5% in the second half. Asrat (13) and Fowler (11) combined for 24 points in the second half. They were a combined 5-of-11 from long range.
 
LCU (18/47, 38.3%) edged UCO (21/55, 38.2%) in shooting for the game. The Bronchos, hitting three-pointers at a 43.5% clip, had 10 three-point field goals and 11 two-point field goals in the game. UCO shot 34.4% (11/32) inside the arc in the game.
 
Avery led all scorers and completed a double-double with 12 rebounds. Williams went 6-of-10 from three-point range to help the Bronchos to a 4-1 record.
 
Asrat led LCU with 19 points, and Fowler was not far behind with 16 points. He also missed a double-double for a second consecutive game, finishing the game with nine rebounds.
 
TURNING POINT
Five of UCO's final six field goals were three-point field goals. UCO's 9-2 run to pull away with 5:17 remaining was filled with three three-point field goals, with two by Jaylan Williams.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The two teams combined for 32 turnovers, with LCU committing 18 turnovers. The mark led to LCU being outscored 21-8 in points off turnovers. The 18 turnovers marks the third time this season LCU has produced at least 18 turnovers, which is a feat LCU refrained from all but five times last season.  
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU, now 0-2 in Canyon, Texas this season, remains in Canyon Saturday to face Colorado State University – Pueblo at 7:30 p.m. inside First United Bank Center.