No. 4 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-0) vs.
REGIS (0-0)
Friday, November 12 – 6 PM
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
All-Time Series: Regis leads 3-2
 
OPENING UP
Things are mostly back to normal this season after the COVID-19 adjusted schedule a year ago that featured only games against Lone Star Conference teams and did not open until Dec. 18. The season-opener last year was on the road against Oklahoma Christian, which the Chaps won 82-70. The win improved the Chaps to 4-6 in season-openers in the 10 seasons under head coach Todd Duncan. Lubbock Christian has opened the season against Regis three times previously, winning in 2015 (72-54) and losing in 2019 (64-60) and 2016 (80-78).
 
HINDSIGHT
The 2020-21 men's basketball season was the best since the school transitioned to NCAA Division II status (2013-14) and one of the most impressive in program history. LCU started the year with a program record 16 straight wins. They became ranked in the top-25 for the first time ever as an NCAA institution, reaching as high as No. 4 nationally. The Chaps beat West Texas A&M on the road (103-85) in the final game of the regular season to claim the program's first Lone Star Conference Championship. At the NCAA regional, which they hosted, they were the No. 2 seed and advanced all the way to the regional championship – another program first – before seeing their season come to an end.
 
GUESS WHO'S BACK
A wealth of experience returns to the Chaparral roster for the 2021-22 season, with little change from last year's core. Parker Hicks and Lloyd Daniels lead the returning group after both players were All-Conference First Team and NABC All-Region selections a season ago. Hicks was also the LSC Player of the Year and an NABC All-American, the first since the transition to the NCAA. Cameron Copley returns with three years of experience at the point guard position and Rowan Mackenzie is back after an impressive first season. Both players were All-LSC Third Team selections. Aamer Muhammad is also back after winning the league's Sixth Man of the Year award for the 20-21 season. The other returners include Jalen Brattain, Ben Janssan, Ty Caswell, Zach Stepp and Karhan Jones.
 
FRESH FACES
Two newcomers have joined the team in the form of Aaron Gonzales and Alec Zambie, both of whom are true freshmen. Gonzales is a graduate of Klein High School and from Spring, Texas. He was a First Team All-Region and All-District selection as a senior, as well as the Co-MVP of the district. Zambie is from Plano, Texas and previously played at Fort Worth Christian. He was a state champion in 2021 and the state runner-up in 2021 at the TAPPS 5A level. During his senior year, he claimed First Team and MVP of the District and was a First Team All-State selection as well.  
 
AT THE HELM
Back to lead the Chaparrals for an 11^th straight season is head coach Todd Duncan. The seventh coach in program history, Duncan took over starting with the 2011-12 season. Prior to that, he spent 15 successful years as the head boys basketball coach and athletic director at Trinity Christian H.S. For his part leading LCU during their successful 2020-21 campaign, Duncan earned Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year and was named the Clarence Gaines National Coach of the Year as well. In his 10 prior seasons, Duncan has built a record of 175-107 and led the program to the NCAA Tournament in three of the six seasons they were eligible. Duncan is joined by Jason Imes, who has been his assistant for all 10 seasons, and Landon Hughey, who was hired this previous summer.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
For the first time in the NCAA era, Lubbock Christian enters the season ranked in the national top-25. The Chaps are ranked in both D-II polls. They are No. 9 in the NABC (coaches) poll and No. 4 in the D2SIDA (sports information) poll, which matches their highest-ranking in school history. LCU's Saturday opponent – Colorado School of Mines – is also nationally ranked, checking in at No. 4 with the NABC and No. 17 with D2SIDA.
 
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Chaparrals played 11 home games last season, posting an 8-3 record in front of their own fans. On average, they scored 82.7 points per game and held opponents to 63.5. Daniels (16.8), Hicks (16.7) and Mackenzie (10.7) all averaged double-figures on the home floor. LCU has a history of success on their home court, going 109-27 (.803) there in Duncan's tenure. The last time they hosted this Regional Challenge to open the season they lost both games, but by a combined six points.
 
SCOUTING THE RANGERS

• Regis finished the 2020-21 season at 6-10 overall, missing the top eight spot required to make the RMAC Tournament
• The Rangers were picked No. 8 in the 2021-22 RMAC Preseason Poll
• Guard Brian Dawson returns for this year's campaign after leading the team with 20.4 pints per game last season
• Head Coach Brady Bergerson is entering his seventh season at the helm of the program. He is the 20^th coach in Regis history
• The Rangers played an exhibition against the Division I University of Denver on Nov. 9 and lost by just three points (68-65)

 
THE SERIES WITH THE RANGERS
Lubbock Christian and Regis did not begin meeting on the hardwood until 2015, when this Regional Challenge was introduce between what was then teams in the Heartland and RMAC. LCU won the first meeting, but RU leads the all-time series 3-2, having won three of the last four meetings, including the last on in 2019 (64-60), which took place in Golden, Colo. Regis also won the only matchup between the teams that took place in the Rip with an 80-78 victory in 2016.