No.7 WEST TEXAS A&M (10-1, 2-0 Lone Star)
at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (6-3, 1-1 Heartland)
Thursday, December 6 - 7 PM                                             
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Radio: KTTU Double-T 97.3 FM
All-Time Series: WTAMU leads 18-5
 
BACK TO NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
After a 1-1 start in Heartland Conference play, Lubbock Christian University returns to non-conference play for the next five games (four at home), beginning with hosting No.7  West Texas A&M Thursday night inside Rip Griffin Center. The game marks LCU first home game against a ranked opponent this season and the first since hosting and defeating No.22 Dallas Baptist on Feb. 8, 2018.      
 
SATURDAY SUMMARY
Isaac Asrat tallied 18 points in the opening half and finished two points shy of a career high, as his 29 points led Lubbock Christian University to an 82-69 win over University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (UAFS) for their first ever win inside Stubblefield Center (1-4) and their first Heartland Conference victory of the season.

LCU forced UAFS into 11 turnovers in the half, leading to a 15-3 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers in the half. The Chaps, shooting 58.1% (18/31) in the first half, were 65.2% (15/23) inside the arc in the first half and outscored UAFS 30-6 in the paint in the half. Asrat was 7-of-10 from the field in the half, going 2-of-3 from three-point range.

Seth Hawley knocked down five three-pointers in the second half (on seven attempts) and produced 19 points in the second half. He scored all 19 of his points in the second half. UAFS hit nine three-pointers in the half and finished the game with 12. The Lions had more three-pointers (12) than two-point field goals in the game (11), marking the first time an LCU opponent had more three-pointers than two-pointers since ironically UAFS had 16 three-pointers and 15 two-point buckets on Feb. 11, 2017 against LCU. The Lions 12 three-pointers came on 31 attempts, matching a season high by an LCU opponent (both times have come in LCU's only true road games of the season).

Despite a 26.7% (4-of-15, missing eight of their final nine attempts) shooting mark from downtown, the Chaps finished the game above .500 from the field for a third time this season (51.6%, 32/62). They were 28-of-47 (59.6%) inside the arc, leading to a 54-22 scoring advantage in the paint. LCU out-rebounded UAFS 42-31, but the Lions had a 20-8 scoring advantage in second-chance scoring.

Along with Asrat, LCU received 16 points from Jay Workman and 12 points from Fowler. UAFS (4-6, 0-2) received 20 points from David Ward. LCU held the Lions to 37.7% (23/61) from the field.
 
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 seventh in blocks (139) and eighth in rebounds (724).
 
LOOKING FOR POSITIVES
LCU is back on the Rip Griffin Center hardwood, where they are 2-1 this season and went 10-3 last season (38-8 since the start of the 2015-16 season). Brennen Fowler is leading the squad at home this season, averaging 15.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game at home this season. The Chaps are shooting 64.1% at home this season inside the arc, but have struggled at home from outside. 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. Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath has been successful at home (4-of-5) from long distance, and Isaac Asrat leads the team with eight three-pointers at home.
 
BOARD TALK
Despite ranking sixth in the Heartland Conference in rebounds (331), LCU entered the week ranking 37^th nationally in the category. LCU has produced a higher rebound total than their opposition in their last seven games, and they have a 9.3 rebound margin in the span. Fowler enters Thursday ranking 19^th nationally in rebounds with 76.
 
STRONG FINISHES
LCU's contests have been low scoring in the first half of play. LCU is averaging 33.1 points in the first half compared to 41.3 in the second half. Their opponents are averaging 29.4 points in the first half and 38.7 points in the second half. Overall, LCU is holding their opponents to an average of 68.1 points per game (LCU averaged 72.5 points per game last season), ranking 56^th nationally in NCAA Div. II.
 
RANKING THE COMPETITION
Thursday marks LCU's third contest against a nationally ranked program this season. LCU is 1-1 this season against Top-25 programs, defeating No.18 Regis (Nov. 10) before falling to No.4/7 West Texas A&M (Nov. 15). LCU went 1-7 last season against nationally ranked foes.
 
"D-UP!"
The Chaparrals are holding opponents to a 40.9% shooting mark from the field, which ranks 56^th nationally. Inside, the Chaps are averaging 36.8 rebounds per game and rank 38^th nationally with a rebound margin of 6.8 per game.   
 
FIVE FACTS ABOUT WTAMU
- WTAMU is 10-1, with already 11 games under their belt. They are riding a seven-game win streak following a 93-70 win on Dec. 1 over Midwestern State.
- The Buffs went 32-4 last season, with a 15-3 mark in Lone Star Conference play. Their season came to a close with an Elite Eight Tournament semifinal loss to Ferris State.
- West Texas A&M is preseason picked second in the LSC Preseason Poll. They received 11 of the 28 first-place votes. The Buffs are off to a 2-0 start in Lone Star Conference play.
- WTAMU leads the nation in three-point field goal attempts with 356 and second in made three-pointers (114). They average 10.4 three-pointers per game, ranking 39^th nationally. Gach Gach has jacked up a nation-leading 91 three-pointers this season and ranks 16^th with 28 made. At the other end, the Buffs rank 28^th nationally holding opponents to a 29.3% shooting mark from downtown.
- Ryan Quaid ranks third nationally in rebounds (94), ranking 62^nd in rebounds per game with a mark of 8.5 this season. He also ranks 10^th in total field goals (67).
 
THE SERIES AGAINST WTAMU
West Texas A&M holds an 18-5 edge over the Chaparrals dating back to 1978, where the Buffs took a 97-83 win over LCU. Fast forward, the Chaps have won three of the past five meeting in the series (two inside Rip Griffin Center), but the Buffs have claimed the prior two. WTAMU's 18-5 record stands while both schools are listed as four-year universities. When including Lubbock Christian's junior college days, the Buffs series advantage jumps to 23-10 over Lubbock Christian. Since Todd Duncan became head coach of the Chaparral program in the 2011-2012 season, the Chaps have gone 4-3 against the Buffs. Thursday's meeting inside Rip Griffin Center closes out a home-and-home season series and marks the final meeting until the two programs are conference foes in the Lone Star Conference.
 
PRIOR MEETING WITH WTAMU
CANYON, Texas (Nov. 15, 2018) – WTAMU 82 – LCU 70
Brennen Fowler's double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds) was not enough to lead Lubbock Christian University past No.4/7 West Texas A&M, as the Buffs received a combined 41 points from Ryan Quaid (21) and Joel Murray (20 points) to win their home opener 82-70 Thursday night inside First United Bank Center.

LCU had to climb a mountain early on, as the Buffs jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the opening 10 minutes. The Chaps were held to two field goals on 10 attempts in the opening 10 minutes, while WT was 8-of-13 from the field in the same span. LCU closed with offensive precision, closing the final 10 minutes of the half making 8-of-11 (72.7%) shots. They made five straight attempts, Brennen Fowler with the opening two, leading to LCU cutting the deficit to five points on two occasions. Murray connected on a pair of inside attempts in the final minute to give the Buffs a 40-31 halftime lead.

WTAMU had a 5-0 advantage in three-pointers in the opening half, and they were hit by four different individuals. They tossed up 17 attempts in the half. Gach Gach led the Buffs with 11 points in the half. Fowler had the game-high at the break with 13 off 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the line. The two squads combined for 30 free-throw attempts in the half.

LCU could not hold the offensive momentum to start the second half. Two minutes into the half, Murray drove in for a layup that sparked a 9-0 run for a 52-35 lead. Brandon Hall converted on a dunk with 7:40 to go to put WTAMU up 74-52. LCU responded with a 10-3 run, with Kentton Williams getting into the mix with one of two Chap three-pointers in the game, cutting the WTAMU lead to 77-62 (3:43 remained). The Chaps ended the game on a 5-1 run.

WTAMU, entering the game 26.0% from three-point range this season, connected for a 38.7% mark (12/31) Thursday. Six different Buffs converted from long range, led by Quaid, who was 4-of-8 (entered the game 2-of-13, 15% on the season). The Chaps, just 2-of-12 (16.7%) from three-point range, excelled inside by out-scoring WTAMU 48-22 in the paint. LCU was 49.1% (16/24) from the field, with a mark of 24-of-41 (73.8%) inside the arc.

Qua Grant (13) and Gach (11) joined Quaid and Murray in double figures for WTAMU. Fowler led LCU with 21 points. Isaac Asrat finished with 14 points for LCU, as he and Fowler (7-of-9) combined to go 12-of-17 (70.6%) from the field. LCU produced 15-4 scoring advantage in second chance scoring.

Turnovers plagued LCU, as they committed 20 and forced nine. WTAMU did not fully take advantage of the margin, out-scoring LCU 15-11 in points off turnovers. The Buffs improved to 5-1 on the season and the game was their home opener, extending the home win streak to 10 games carrying over from last season. The contest was LCU's second straight game against a nationally ranked squad and they now drop to 1-1 in contests against ranked foes.