LUBBOCK, Texas (December 6, 2018) – Lubbock Christian University set a Rip Griffin Center record with a 63.6% shooting mark from three-point range, as LCU's 7-of-11 outside shooting and Kobe Thompson's field goal with 2:14 left was enough to lead the Chaparrals to a 68-65 win over No.7 West Texas A&M Thursday night in a contest filled with 23 lead changes.
 
Fifteen (15) of the lead changes came in the second half of play. With the half starting out with a West Texas A&M 39-37 lead, WTAMU's Ryan Quaid followed a Rashaad Proctor layup with a three-pointer to place the Buffaloes lead at 42-39. It would be the Buffs largest lead of the half, as LCU countered with a 9-2 run for a 48-44 lead with 13:28 remaining. The Buffs ended the run with a 6-0 run to regain the lead at 50-48 less than 90 seconds later. Neither team had more than a two-point lead through a series of 12 lead changes carried out over a span of 8:47 (from the time WTAMU took a 50-48 lead). With the score tied 63-63, the game's 23^rd lead change took place with Brennen Fowler placing a layup in with 2:54 left for a 65-63 advantage. Quaid responded on the ensuing possession, knotting the game up for a 12^th time with a layup as 2:30 remained. Thompson ended a streak of five consecutive LCU field goals with a layup off an assist from Fowler to put LCU up 67-65 16 seconds later.
 
The two teams traded turnovers and each had a pair of free-throw misses in the final 36 seconds. Isaac Asrat's second free-throw attempt with 13 seconds left was the game's final point, and the only point tallied by either team in the final 2:13 of the game. Following Asrat's free-throw, Quaid missed a three-pointer with under five seconds remaining, but West Texas A&M was able to chase down the rebound and was credited with a timeout with 1.5 seconds left to work on an inbounds play. The inbound was worked into the corner to Gach Gach, who put up his 11^th three-point attempt of the game, but the shot was in-and-out and the Chaps prevailed.
 
West Texas A&M put up 28 three-point attempts in the game, but shot the long range shot at 25% (7-of-28). Gach finished the game 1-of-10 from three-point range after nailing the opening shot attempt of the game from three-point range. Two of the first four field goals for WTAMU were from downtown to open the game.
 
LCU was 6-of-9 from three-point range in the first half and received a three-pointer from Brennen Fowler with 6:59 left in the first half to take a 27-21 lead for the largest lead of the game. WTAMU countered with a 9-0 run, which was part of a 17-3 scoring surge by the Buffs to take a 38-30 lead for their largest lead with 2:18 left in the half. The Chaps were able to close the half on a 7-1 run.
 
The Chaps, who had not had a three-point shooting performance of at least 30% in three prior home games, had a 63.6% (7-of-11) shooting night, which topped the prior Rip Griffin Center record of 61.1% (11-of-18) from Dec. 30, 2006 against Sul Ross. Overall, it was LCU's best shooting mark from outside since a 73.3% (11-of-15) performance on Nov. 15, 2017 at Texas-Permian Basin.
 
Quaid completed a double-double evening, adding 10 rebounds to a 16-point scoring affair. He helped the Buffs out-rebound LCU 36-22, which included 16 offensive rebounds. The mark helped the Buffs get 10 more shot attempts (22/58, 37.9%) than LCU (26/48, 54.2%). Quaid was one of three Buffs in double figures, as Gach led all scorers with 18 points and Joel Murray added 13 points. The Buffs fell to 10-2 on the season.
 
Asrat led LCU with 16 points off a 6-of-10 shooting night, which included a 2-of-2 effort from long range. Jay Workman posted 12 points and Thompson finished with 10 points. Fowler produced a team-leading seven boards and five assists. LCU had a 34-22 scoring advantage in the paint.
 
The Chaps improved to 7-3 with the win. They are now 3-1 at home and are 2-1 against ranked opponents. The win was their first win over a top-10 ranked squad since a NCAA South Central Region Tournament win over No.7 Midwestern State on Mar. 12, 2016. It was their first win at home over a top-10 ranked squad since gaining NCAA Division II membership.
 
TURNING POINT
With 22 seconds remaining and LCU leading 67-65, Ryan Quaid earned a trip to the line with an opportunity to tie the game, but he missed both free-throw attempts (he was 2-of-2 from the line prior to the trip). Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath was able to get the rebound off the miss and eventually Asrat was fouled, sending him to the line. WTAMU had a 26-13 advantage in free-throw attempts in the game, outscoring LCU 14-9 from the line.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
WTAMU out-rebounded LCU 36-22, ending a streak of seven consecutive games in which LCU had more rebounds than their opponents. The -14 in rebound margin was LCU's worst since a -15 against Arkansas-Fort Smith on Feb. 11, 2017 (37-22).  The last time LCU claimed a win with such a disadvantage in rebounding was on Jan. 12, 2012, as LCU won despite a -20 (45-25) against Oklahoma City University.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
A break awaits the Chaparrals, who will not return to action until facing Cameron in Lawton, Okla. on Dec. 15.