LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (5-3, 0-1)
VS. ARKANSAS – FORT SMITH (4-5, 0-1)
Saturday, December 1 - 1 PM                                             
Stubblefield Center (Fort Smith, Ark.)
Radio: None
All-Time Series: UAFS leads 5-4
 
QUICK TURNAROUND
Lubbock Christian University will try to avoid a second straight 0-2 conference start the hard way Saturday facing Arkansas-Fort Smith in Stubblefield Center (Fort Smith, Ark.) for a Heartland Conference contest. The Chaps, who wrapped up a 75-69 loss at home to Dallas Baptist Thursday, will bus over 520 miles to face UAFS 40 hours after stepping off the Rip Griffin Center hardwood. Following the conference tilt, LCU will play five consecutive non-conference games before returning to conference play on Jan. 10, 2019 in Laredo, Texas.    
 
THURSDAY TRIBUNE
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.
 
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%).
 
CAREER CALCULATOR
Lubbock Christian University forward Brennen Fowler, a two-time Heartland Conference Player of the Week, has some active numbers he is building each game in NCAA Division II play. The senior from Smyer, Texas has 1,170 career points, ranking fifth among NCAA Division II active career leaders in double-double (28). He also ranks sixth in blocks (139) and seventh in rebounds (722).
 
LOOKING FOR POSITIVES
LCU has built success at Rip Griffin Center (2-1 this season and 38-8 since the start of 2015-16), but they have better long range shooting success away from home. The Chaps have not shot over 29% from long range in a home game this season, and are shooting 27.5% from three-point range this season at home. In five games away from home, LCU is shooting 36.9% from downtown. Brennen Fowler is averaging 20.2 points and 9.4 rebounds in five games away from "The Rip" this season. He is 8-of-16 (50%) from three-point range in the same span. Silas Crisler has also been successful away from Rip Griffin Center, connecting on 12-of-26 three-point attempts for a 46.2% shooting mark.
 
BOARD TALK
Despite ranking fifth in the Heartland Conference in rebounds (291), LCU entered the week ranking 32^nd nationally in the category. LCU has produced a higher rebound total than their opposition in their last six games, and they have a 9.0 rebound margin in the span. Fowler entered the week ranking 18^th nationally in rebounding average and is  averaging 9.3 rebounds per game.
 
STRONG FINISHES
LCU's contests have been low scoring in the first half of play. LCU is averaging 32.0 points in the first half compared to 41.5 in the second half. Their opponents are averaging 30.6 points in the first half and 37.4 points in the second half. Overall, LCU is holding their opponents to an average of 68.0 points per game (LCU averaged 72.5 points per game last season), ranking 54^th nationally in NCAA Div. II.
 
HEART-TO-HEART TALK
This season marks the 20^th and final season of existence for the Heartland Conference. LCU, loss Thursday placed their record at 2-4 all-time in Heartland Conference openers. This season marks their fourth conference opener against DBU, but the first in Lubbock. The Chaps went 9-7 last season in conference play , with Isaac Asrat leading them with 15.6 points per conference game. Rashaan Proctor, who averaged 2.5 per conference game last season, leads LCU this season in conference play with 15.0 points per game.
 
"D-UP!"
The Chaparrals are holding opponents to a 41.0% shooting mark from the field, which ranks 57^th nationally. Inside, the Chaps are averaging 36.4 rebounds per game and rank 54^th nationally with a rebound margin of 5.9 per game.   
 
FIVE FACTS ABOUT UAFS
- UAFS is 4-5 this season and coming off a 70-69 loss Thursday at Rogers State in their Heartland Conference opener. The Lions had a chance for the win, but Kei'shon Parker's runner as time expired did not fall. It marks the fifth time in the last six seasons in which UAFS has had a 0-1 conference start.
- The Lions went 24-6 last season, going 12-4 in the Heartland Conference to claim a share of the conference regular season title. They were slated to finish fifth this season based on the Heartland Conference Preseason Poll.
- UAFS entered the week ranking fifth nationally in blocks, with 39. They registered one Thursday, placing them with 40 on the season. Matt Morgan ranks fourth nationally with 21 blocks, averaging 2.3 per game.  
- Arkansas-Fort Smith averages 10.0 three-pointers per game on an average of 26.7 attempts per game. Each mark ranks seventh nationally. They convert on a .375 average per game. Seth Hawley leads the conference with 54 three-point attempts (six per game). He has connected on a team-leading 24 (2.7 per game) at a percentage rate of .444.  
- Chris Crawford gets to the free-throw line at an average rate of seven attempts per game and averages 6.0 points per game from the line. He leads the Lions averaging 17.6 points a game nd has posted at least 15 points in eight of nine games this season.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST UAFS
The rivalry between LCU and the Lions is led by UAFS 5-4 after sweeping the season series last season. Last season's sweep marked the first time a team in the all-time series has won more than one consecutive meeting. Lubbock Christian's last win over the Lions came at home in an 84-64 result (Jan.5, 2017). LCU is 0-4 in games played at Stubblefield Center.
 
PRIOR MEETING WITH UAFS
FORT SMITH, Ark. (Jan 27, 2018) – LCU 82 – UAFS 74
Lubbock Christian University fell in overtime at No.17 Arkansas - Fort Smith 82-74 inside Stubblefield Center. Isaac Asrat tallied 18 points and seven rebounds to lead four Chaparral players in double figures during the Heartland Conference contest.
 
Arkansas - Fort Smith used outside shooting to take an early 10-5 lead, but LCU marched back and cut the Lions lead to two-points on back-to-back buckets. Adam Rivera provided a layup a 90 seconds later to cap a 5-0 run to regain a seven-point lead for UAFS (18-11). Kentton Williams answered by drilling consecutive buckets for the Chaps, and Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath followed with a mid-range jumper to tie the game at 18-18. Kyree Elder reclaimed the lead for the Lions with a three-pointer at the 11:50 mark. The Chaparrals then exploded on a 14-4 run to take their first lead of the afternoon, with 6:06 left in the half, at 34-28. Asrat sealed up the first period for LCU netting a pair of free throws to give the Chaps a 40-34 advantage at the break.
 
Marcos Schuster was the spark for Lubbock Christian in the opening period, scoring 12-points on a trio of three-pointers and 4-of-6 shooting. His offensive performance helped push the Chaparrals to a 48.1% (13-of-27) field goal average. LCU's defense pressured UAFS into committing nine turnovers in the half. The Lions were also limited to 12-of-29 shooting (41.4%) from the floor.
 
Lubbock Christian came out strong in the second half, scoring eight of the first 12 points on their way to a 48-38 lead. Arkansas Fort Smith began to slowly chip away, and a pair of free throws by Darrion Strong-Moore brought the Lions within two-points, 57-55, at the 5:15 mark. LCU traded points with UAFS until Ladarius Coleman drilled a trey to claim Arkansas - Fort Smith's first lead of the half at 62-61 with 1:59 to play. Asrat quickly recovered for the Chaps sinking a pair of free throws and returning the lead to LCU. Brennen Fowler attempted to provide some late game heroics for Lubbock Christian with a clutch layup on an assist from Rashaan Proctor. Fowler's bucket gave LCU a 65-63 cushion with 24 seconds remaining. Fort Smith's Chris Crawford was fouled just five seconds later where he was able to knock down both free throws and tie things up at 65-65 to close out the second half.

In overtime, Arkansas - Fort Smith opened the extra period on a 10-3 scoring run to take a 75-68 lead. They opened the extra frame 5-of-5 from the field. 
 
Despite Lubbock Christian holding UAFS to a 33.3% shooting performance in the second half, the Lions ultimately overcame a 10-point deficit on their way to the win. The Chaps were unable to match their first half outing and registered a 30.4% field goal average in the second half. Additionally, LCU was outscored 17-9 in the overtime stretch.
 
Fowler and Asrat each collected 10 points over the second half and overtime period. Fowler finished the day just behind Asrat with 17 points, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Schuster (15 points) and Jay Workman (11 points) rounded out the Chap scorers in double-digits while also adding seven rebounds apiece. LCU finished the afternoon shooting 38.6% from the floor, 23-for 34 (67.6%) from the free throw line.