LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (12-7, 3- Heartland)
vs. Newman (14-5, 5-2 Heartland)
Thursday, Jan. 31 – 8 p.m.
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Radio: 100.7FM
All-Time Series: LCU leads 6-4
 
FRIENDLY CONFINES
After a tough week on the road that included a pair of losses at St. Edward's and Oklahoma Christian, Lubbock Christian University returns home to the Rip Griffin Center this week to take on the No. 2 team in the Heartland Conference in Newman University. The Chaps are 7-1 when playing at home this year in stark contrast to their 2-5 record in road games this year.
 
FACING THE HEARTLAND
The Chaparrals are in their sixth season of Heartland Conference play after first joining for the 2013-14 campaign. They have now played a total of 99 games in conference play, making Thursday's contest against Newman their 100^th in Heartland play. LCU is 63-36 in those six seasons giving them a .636 winning percentage overall.
 
FIFTEEN OR FEWER
LCU has turned the ball over less than 15 times in each of their last four games. To start the season, the Chaps were 9-0 when turning the ball over less than 15 times in a game, but they have lost the last two games even when limiting their turnovers. LCU opponents average 14.7 turnovers per game.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE, NO TROUBLE
Forward Brennen Fowler recorded his eighth double-double of the season on Saturday against Oklahoma Christian (21 points, 12 rebounds), but it was also the 33^rd of his prestigious career. His 33 career-double-doubles rank fifth above active Division II players and is tied for the 24 most among active players across all divisions. Fowler has a chance to reach fourth place in Division II, with the next player having recorded 37 in his career.
 
SHARP SHOOTING
The Chaparrals have shot better than 50 percent from the field in nine games this season, winning every one of those contests. They have the best shooting percentage in the Heartland Conference at .485. If LCU hits less than half of its shots, however, it has a losing record of just 3-6. The Chaps' best shooting game this season was on Dec. 19 when they shot 55.4 percent in a 23-point win against UT Permian Basin. The last time the Chaps shot worse than 50 percent from the field and won was on 11/17 against Cameron, when they shot 49.1 percent.
 
FOWLER'S FOUR
Lubbock Christian senior forward Brennen Fowler ranks in the top three of the Heartland Conference in four different statistical categories this season, including scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocks. The Smyer native is first in FG percentage at 56.7 percent, second in both scoring and rebounding with 17.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and third in blocks with 1.4 a game.
 
SCORE-STOPPING
The Chaps rank fourth in the Heartland Conference in scoring defense, but are in the top third of Division II, ranking No. 74 nationally out of 304 total teams. LCU gives up an average of 71.1 points per game currently. When their opponents scores less than 70 points, they are 9-2, but they are 3-5 when allowing 70 or more points.
 
CAUTIOUS COPLEY
Guard Cameron Copley ranks four in the Heartland Conference in Assist/Turnover ratio this season at 1.8. He is the team leader (and sixth in the conferences) in assists with 58 (3.4 per game), and the Canadian native takes care of the ball, turning it over less than two times per contest.
 
REBOUNDING RECORD
In Lubbock Christian's game on Dec. 29 against Jarvis Christian, senior Brennen Fowler pulled down 18 rebounds, setting not only a Rip Griffin Center single-game record, but pushing into first place on the Chaparrals' all-time rebounding list. He passed Rick Russworm, who grabbed 753 rebounds in a career that spanned from 1971-1975. He is now up to 832 in his career, which ranks sixth among active Division II men's basketball players.
 
FIVE FACTS ABOUT NEWMAN

• Newman ranks No. 15 in all of Division II in field goal percentage defense, limiting opponents to just .304 from behind the arc
• Jet Marshawn Blackmon is fourth in the Heartland Conference in rebounding at 8.7 per game
• The Jets average 27.4 defensive rebounds per game which ranks 45^th in the country and second in the Heartland
• Newman made the most free throws in a single game of any Heartland Conference team this season, hitting 38 shots from the charity stripe on 12/1/18
• Jets guard Ben Ayre ranks second in the Heartland Conference with 5.2 assist per game

 
THE SERIES WITH THE JETS
Lubbock Christian did not play Newman before the two teams became Heartland Conference foes in the 2013-14 season. Newman won that first matchup before the Chaps rattled off three straight wins in 2015 and 2016. LCU has won the last three meetings between the teams by an average score of more than 10 points per game.