LUBBOCK, Texas (March 16, 2021) – Lubbock Christian shot 60 percent from the field, including 45.2 percent from behind the arc, but it wasn't enough to take down West Texas A&M, who won 101-92 in the South Central Regional Championship game Tuesday night in the Rip Griffin Center.
 
The Chaps end the season with an 18-3 record, having gone deeper into the NCAA Tournament than they ever have before.
 
Both teams missed their first field-goal attempt, but the trend did not stick for the rest of the half, as LCU shot 67.8 percent and WT shot 60 percent from the field through the first 20 minutes. Qua Grant got the Buffs on the board first with a three-pointer, and the Chaps got a layup from Parker Hicks for their first two points.
 
The Buffs pushed out to an early four-point lead before a three-pointer from Rowan Mackenzie and a layup plus one free throw gave LCU its first lead of 13-12 at the 15:09 mark. The Chaps were able to hold onto the lead but were unable to build on it much. Their four-point advantage with 9:23 left in the opening half would be their biggest all game.
 
LCU didn't really stop scoring, but WT seemed unable to miss all of the sudden, as Grant drilled back-to-back three pointers to re-tie the game at 27-27. The Chaps followed with a layup from Mackenzie to lead 29-27, and although it seemed unlikely at the time, they would not lead again the rest of the way.
 
Four straight points from Jon'il Fugget gave the Buffs a small cushion, and two minutes later Zach Toussaint hit a pair of three-pointers to get them up by eight. Three-pointers from Jalen Brattain and Cameron Copley kept the Chaps from falling too far behind, but Grant hit again from downtown just before the buzzer sounded for halftime, sending LCU into the locker room down by 10.
 
Grant was the main reason WT was able to win and advance to the Elite Eight, scoring a game-high 40 points, including 21 in the first half. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
 
Both teams shot slightly worse in the second half but were still at the 50 percent mark or better in the final 20 minutes. The Chaps started the half strong, getting a pair of three-pointers from Hicks, a jumper from Mackenzie and another three from Copley to pull within four at the 13:29 mark.
 
Kavon Booker responded with a bucket in the paint and the Buffs then hit four straight free throws to push the gap back out to 10. Free throws ended up behind the difference-maker in a game where LCU ended up with more made field goals (36) than WT (34), with both teams making 14 three-pointers.
 
Lubbock Christian got back within six points at the 10:18 mark, but the Buffs responded again, this time getting a three-pointer from Hayden Blankley. The Blankley bucket sparked a 9-0 WT run that led them to their widest margin of 15 points with 8:30 to go.
 
A three-pointer from Daniels cut the lead back to single-digits with just under three minutes to go, but the clock was working against the Chaps. Fighting against LCU's defensive pressure, the Buffs kept their composure and closed out the win.
 
Five different Chaparral players reached double-figures in the loss, including a team-high 27 from Hicks, who also finished just two rebounds shy of his fifth double-double of the year. Daniels added in 20 on an efficient 9-for-11 shooting. Both players were named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Mackenzie and Copley scored 16 each, and Copley fell one assist short of his own double-double. Brattain rounded out the group with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting.