SAN ANGELO, Texas (January 27, 2022) – It took 10 extra minutes, but Lubbock Christian University ended up on top Thursday night, beating Angelo State 85-79 in double overtime at the Junell Center.
 
It was the first time Lubbock Christian has played past regulation this season, and the first time they have played through two overtimes since March 6, 2020 in a Lone Star Conference Tournament game that was also, oddly enough, against Angelo State.
 
The Chaps are now 18-0 on the season, improving on their already program record start to the season. Nova Southeastern also won Thursday night, so there is still one more undefeated team out there in NCAA Division II.
 
LCU's first half in the Junell Center was one to forget, as they fell behind by double-figures in the first 20 minutes. Neither team shot the ball well right after tip off, and ASU led 3-0 at the first media timeout. Jalen Brattain got the Chaps on the scoreboard at the 15:27 mark with a layup, and LCU started to find some success. Parker Hicks and Lloyd Daniels got baskets and a three-pointer from Zach Stepp at the 11:40 mark gave LCU its first lead at 14-13.
 
The Rams found their stroke as well though, including a number of contested threes that were made, taking them to a double-digit lead. When the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the half, LCU trailed by 11, which is their largest halftime deficit of the season.
 
For the third straight game though, Lubbock Christian came out of the break on fire. Angelo State started the half with the ball and scored the first basket, but it was all Chaps for a while after that, as they went on an 18-3 run and turned an 11-point deficit into a six-point lead at the 12:35 mark.
 
A major reason for LCU's comeback and eventual win was the play of sophomore guard Aamer Muhammad. The New Mexico native finished the first half with zero points on just one shot attempt. In the second half, however, he shot 9-13, pouring in 23 points. He finished the game with 30 total points on 62.5 percent, just one point shy of matching his career high.
 
The Chaps led by as many as seven in the second half with under ten minutes to play, but could never put the Rams away. A major reason they never put the game out of reach was their performance at the free throw line, where they shot just 7-14.
 
With 6:30 to go, ASU made their run, scoring seven straight points to tie the game. Neither team was able to pull way in the game's closing minutes, but the Rams took a two-point lead with 33 second left in regulation. Down the floor on the ensuing possession, Muhammad made a nice move to shake his defender and drilled a wing three to put the Chaps ahead by one.
 
LCU followed with a strong defensive possession to try and win the game, but a foul was called on Hicks with two seconds to play. Just one free throw went through, setting up overtime.
 
It looked as though Angelo State might pull away and finish the upset in the first overtime period, especially when they pulled in front by four with just 1:22 left. But Hicks hit a jumper and Muhammad got to the free throw line with nine seconds left, hitting both attempts to extend the game a little longer.
 
ASU had the first basket of the second overtime, and it was all Chaps from there on out. Muhammad scored, Jalen Brattain got to the free throw line and made both, and LCU's defense locked in and allowed just one more Ram basket. Muhammad and Rowan Mackenzie made free throws in the final 30 seconds to close it out, and the Chaps went home happy.
 
All four other Chap starters finished in double-figures in the extended game. Hicks didn't shoot the ball great, but had 14 points and matched his career high with 15 rebounds. Brattain and Daniels had 13 points each, and Rowan Mackenzie added in 12.
 
TURNING POINT
The game was never really in hand, and although the 18-3 run early in the second half allowed the Chaps any chance, the real game-winning play was their defensive stop with 17 seconds left in the second overtime, when ASU's Paul Williams missed a contested three-pointer and Mackenzie came away with the rebound.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
After shooting an abysmal 50 percent from the free throw line in the second half, the Chaps turned things around in the two overtime periods and was a nearly perfect 9-10 at the charity stripe.
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will have a day to recuperate before traveling to Odessa, where they will take on UT Permian Basin at 4 p.m. on Saturday.