Men's Basketball | 02.17.2022

Box Score PORTALES, N.M. (February 17, 2022) – It was just a two-point lead at halftime, but Lubbock Christian University pulled away in the second half for a 76-58 bounce-back win at Eastern New Mexico in non-conference action at Greyhound Arena.
 
It was the final non-conference game of the regular season for the Chaps, who are a perfect 13-0 outside of league play. They are now 23-2 overall and will finish the regular season with an 8-1 record in true road games.
 
Shooting against the side of Greyhound arena that features a cinder block wall right behind the basket, LCU struggled offensively in the first half. The Chaps shot just 40.6 percent from the field and didn't help themselves by getting to the charity stripe, attempting only two free throws in the first 20 minutes.
 
The only Lubbock Christian player who seemed to find success early was Aamer Muhammad, who had 11 first-half points playing back in his home state. Muhammad ended up leading the Chaps in scoring for the game with 21 points. He also pulled down seven rebounds and notched seven assists in the win.
 
Eastern New Mexico actually had the lead for much of the first half, pushing out in front by as many as six points with 4:32 remaining before the break. The Chaps closed the gap with baskets from Parker Hicks and Aaron Gonzales, and Muhammad scored the final four points of the half to give LCU a two-point lead.
 
In the second half, the Chaps were shooting toward the basket with stands behind it, and it seemed to work better. ENMU did briefly grab the lead again, but with the game tied 40-all, Lubbock Christian scored seven straight points and never trailed again.
 
LCU shot 54.5 percent in the final 20 minutes of play, while holding the Greyhounds to 37.5 percent shooting. Muhammad found Daniels on a backdoor cut for a layup at the 11:08 mark that put the Chaps up by double-figures for the first time in the game.
 
The Chaps were also much more aggressive on offense in the second half, which helped them get to the free throw line more often. LCU was in the bonus with nearly 13 minutes left in the half, and they were at the double-bonus with eight minutes to play. They shot 16-18 from the line to close out the game.
 
Slowly, Lubbock Christian stretched the lead out past 20 points and got it to its widest margin of 22 on a three-pointer by Lloyd Daniels with 1:24 left in the game.
 
Daniels was one of four Chaps to finish in double-figures, along with Muhammad, Hicks and Rowan Mackenzie. He had 18 points, while Hicks chipped in 13 and Mackenzie added 10. LCU shot 46.3 percent against the Greyhounds overall. Hicks also grabbed 11 rebounds, giving him his third-straight double-double and his 11^th of the season.
 
TURNING POINT
Trailing 40-39 early in the second half, Daniels got himself to the free throw line and sparked a 15-3 Chap run that put the Greyhounds away for good. Kentrell Pullian hit a three-pointer for ENMU in the middle of the run to try and slow LCU down, but Zach Stepp rattled one home on the other end to keep the Chap offense rolling.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU matched its season-high with 12 offensive rebounds against the Greyhounds, which they have done twice before this year. They scored 18 second-chance points off those rebounds, which just so happened to be the margin of victory.
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will get another shot at Eastern New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday inside the Rip Griffin Center. The Tuesday contest will count toward the LSC standings.