LAS VEGAS (December 17, 2021) - The Chaps looked in trouble early and the game was still close in the second half, but Lubbock Christian University's strong second half shooting led them to an eventual 17-point win over Rollins College Friday in South Point Arena.
 
The Tars (6-5, 1-3), coming off an upset of No. 12 Barry less than a week ago, were hot to start the game, hitting over 70 percent of their shots in the first 10 minutes of the game. As it usually does, the offensive success led to good defense, as all the makes allowed them ample time to set up their zone defense, which LCU struggled against early. At the 10:34 mark, Rollins was leading by five.
 
Lloyd Daniels had the game's next basket, and the Tars never led by as many as five again. In fact, LCU had the next two baskets as well – both by Parker Hicks, as the Chaps took their first lead of the game with 7:23 left to play.
 
Lubbock Christian didn't shoot the ball poorly overall in the first half, hitting 51.9 percent of their shots. They did, however, struggle from behind the arc. On 14 three-point attempts in the first 20 minutes of play, LCU was successful only three times, shooting an abysmal 21.4 percent. They also turned the ball over at a much higher rate than usual. They gave the ball away eight times in the first half, despite averaging only 9.5 turnovers per game through the first 10 contests of the season.
 
Despite all the issues, the Chaparrals took the lead for good with 5:56 left in the first half. Rollins scored only two more points the rest of the half, and LCU took a nine-point lead into the break.
 
It looked as though the second half would be just as tight as the first early on. The Tars scored the first four points and by the 15:32 mark had pulled back within four points, but Hicks drew a foul and hit both free throws to answer. LCU pushed the lead out to nine, but again it was cut back to four at the 12:45 mark. Hicks answered again, this time with a three-pointer, and he hit another two minutes later to stretch the lead to double-digits for the first time.
 
Three-point shooting by the Chaps improved drastically after halftime and was a key component in them staying ahead and eventually pulling ahead. After going 3-14 in the first half, they were 7-14 in the second half for an overall mark of 35.7 percent.
 
The last real press from Rollins came with just over seven minutes to play, and a layup from Brooks Cluxton cut the Tar deficit to just seven. This time it was Jalen Brattain who answered with a three-pointer, and Aamer Muhammad followed with one of his own as the Chaps pulled away once and for all with a 15-2 run.
 
Four LCU players finished in double-figures in the win, led by Hicks with 20 points. He also contributed 10 rebounds, notching his sixth double-double of the year, as well as two blocks, two assists and one steal. Daniels was right behind with 19 points and led the team with six assists. Muhammad finished with 17 points, and Brattain scored 13 off the bench for his second-straight game in double figures.
 
TURNING POINT
Rollins was held scoreless for the final 5:04 of the first half, and while Lubbock Christian scored just eight points in that time, they took the lead and gained enough breathing room to stay ahead for the remainder of the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Tars came into this game shooting 39.3 percent from behind the arc, but were held to just 20.8 percent shooting (5-24) by the Chaps, which was their worst performance in a single game this season. LCU opponents are now shooting just 26.4 percent on three-pointers for the year.
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will wrap up non-conference play on Saturday, as they take on Wester Washington at 6 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. CST at South Point Arena.