LUBBOCK, Texas (November 29, 2018) – Chandler Jacobs helped Dallas Baptist University nail three-pointers on their final two field goal attempts to hold off a comeback bid from Lubbock Christian University, as the two teams opened their Heartland Conference schedule with a 75-69 DBU victory Thursday night inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
Julian Miranda hit a three-pointer for the Patriots, as the shot clock was expiring, with 1:42 left to put DBU up 68-60.  LCU responded with a field goal from Brennen Fowler, a turnover, a pair of free-throws by Isaac Asrat and a five-second inbounds violation for another DBU turnover.  That set up a three-pointer by Cameron Copley with 50 seconds left to cap a 7-0 LCU run, which cut the deficit to 68-67.
 
On the ensuing possession, Jacobs, with a defender in his face, pulled up for a three-point shot at the point and drained it for a 71-67 advantage with 23 seconds left. Copley quickly drove down and put in a layup with 16 seconds left, but DBU made their free-throws the rest of the way to claim a 75-69 win.
 
The Patriots never trailed in the game and jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game. LCU responded by scoring eight of the next 11 points to pull within two points (10-8). The Chaps trailed 12-11 before a Conner Lidiak three-pointer for DBU started a 10-2 Patriots run for a 22-13 DBU lead with 11:18 left in the first half. The Chaps halted the DBU run with a 6-0 run of their own and eventually pulled to a 27-26 deficit (5:42 left in the half) before another three-pointer, this time by Zach Lord, was hit by DBU. Neither team scored in the final three minutes of the first half and LCU trailed 35-27 at the half.  LCU was 10-of-15 (66.7%) inside the arc during the half, but DBU was 7-of-13 (53.8%) from long range in the half.
 
The Patriots kept their distance through most of the second half and had a 10-point lead on three occasions and as late as 52-42 with 10:28 remaining. DBU went a stretch shooting 2-of-13 (15.3% from 16:06 remaining to 6:26 left), and the Chaps took advantage of the scenario outscoring DBU 16-8 to cut the deficit to 60-58.  DBU was 0-of-7 from three-point range in the second half until Miranda's three-pointer was nailed with 1:42 left.
 
Jacobs posted a game-high 21 points off 7-of-11 shooting, with a 4-of-5 clip from three-point range. They also received 18 points in nearly 21 minutes of play from Lord. DBU, going 9-of-22 (40.9%) from long distance in the contest, won the game despite 22 rebounds.  The 22 rebounds marked the fewest amount of rebounds by an LCU opponent in a LCU loss since opposing team game-game records were kept on file since 2008). The rebound total was the fewest overall by an LCU opponent since St. Edward's was held to 12 on Jan. 19, 2017.
 
LCU had a 27-22 rebound advantage, but their 27 rebounds were the fewest since 22 on Feb. 3, 2018 (vs. Texas A&M International). Fowler led LCU with six rebounds. He also had six assists, which marked a career high. The Chaps senior was one of four players in double figures in points. Rashaan Proctor led LCU with 15 points, with offensive support also provided from Asrat (13 points) and Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath (11 points). The Chaps were 21-of-34 (61.8%) shooting inside the arc, but struggled again at home from long distance going 6-of-22 (27.3%). LCU has not shot 30% from long range in a home game this season.
 
The loss marks LCU's first home loss of the season (2-1) and they open Heartland Conference play 0-1. They are 2-4 all-time in Heartland Conference openers (1-1 when opening Heartland play at home). They drop to 5-3 overall, while DBU improved to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in conference.
 
TURNING POINT
Possessions when the game was a one-possession game was the difference Thursday night. DBU was 10-of-14 (71.4%) from the field (3-of-3 from three-point range) when taking shot attempts with the game decided by one possession. LCU was 0-of-1 with a turnover in possessions in which they had they had the ball trailing by three points or less.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
DBU was 16-of-17 (94.1%) from the free-throw line, which is the best an LCU opponent has done at the line (with at least 10 attempts) since St. Edward's was 19-of-20 (95%) on Jan. 19, 2017. The Patriots starters were a combined 11-of-11 from the charity stripe.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Chaps have no time to reflect or dwell on Thursday's loss, as they head to Fort Smith, Ark. To face UAFS in a Heartland Conference tilt Saturday at 1 p.m. The Lions fell 70-69 at Rogers State Thursday, missing a runner at the horn in the conference opener for the two squads.