NO. 1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (20-0, 8-0)
vs. DALLAS BAPTIST (14-7, 7-2)
Saturday, Feb. 5 – 4 p.m. CT
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
All-Time Series: DBU leads 31-19
 
NEED TO KNOW

• Both Parker Hicks and Lloyd Daniels have scored at least 20 points in each of Lubbock Christian's last two games
• The Chaps are ranked No. 1 in both D-II national polls
• LCU has a one-game lead in the Lone Star Conference, just ahead of St. Mary's, who is 7-1 in league play
• Senior Zach Stepp pulled down a career-high seven rebounds in Thursday's win
• DBU ranks eighth in the league in both offense (74.9 ppg) and defense (69.0 ppg allowed)
• The Chaps lead the LSC and rank No. 38 nationally in assists per game with 16.0
• Saturday is homecoming for Lubbock Christian University

 
20-SOMETHING
Weeks ago, the Chaparrals set a new program record for the best start to the season when they won their 17^th straight game without a loss. They beat Angelo State in double overtime on the road to accomplish the feat, and they still haven't lost since, running the record to 20-0 with Thursday night's win over Midwestern State. LCU and Nova Southeastern (19-0, 14-0 SSC) are the only two unbeaten teams left in Division II. The Chaps' opponents, however, have a combined record of 192-148 (.565), giving them the 51^st toughest schedule in the nation. NSU, meanwhile, has played opponents with a winning percentage of just .536, which gives them the 127^th toughest schedule.
 
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
On Thursday, the Chaps won by 14, holding Midwestern State to just 52 points overall. The total was the Mustang's lowest of the season, and they shot only 37.5 percent (21-56) from the field. MSU is the ninth different opponent that has suffered their lowest scoring total of the season against Lubbock Christian. LCU opponents average just 60.5 points per game this season, which is the fifth-best mark in the nation. LCU's opponent field goal percentage of 37.7 ranks even better at No. 2 nationally. Both marks are good enough to lead the Lone Star Conference. The Chaps are tough to score on because of a full team effort, but Hicks has been recognized with five LSC Defensive Player of the Week awards for his role, and in particular, his 7.45 defensive rebounds per game, which rank first in the league and No. 20 nationally.
 
SURE-SHOOTING
On the opposite side of the floor, Lubbock Christian has had very few problems shooting the ball themselves, ranking No. 6 nationally at 51.8 percent. On Thursday, they shot 54.5 percent overall, including a scorching 65 percent in the final 20 minutes of play. Hicks (54.3) and Daniels (53.8) lead the way, ranking first and second in the conference in individual field goal percentage, respectively. Another four Chaparral players are shooting better than 50 percent from the field as well. All of the made baskets have also allowed LCU to be one of the bests teams at tallying assists in the league with 16.0 per game.
 
FROM DOWNTOWN
The Chaps' impressive shooting prowess even extends past the line that is 22 feet, 1 ¾ inches away from the basket. After a 9-19 showing on Thursday night (47.4 percent), LCU is now tied for the Lone Star Conference lead in three-point shooting percentage and ranks No. 18 nationally. They are shooting 39.4 percent (175-444) this season. Stepp leads the team at a ridiculous 57.5 percent (23-40) and freshman Aaron Gonzales is 12-13 for a 52.2 percentage. Another three Chaps are shooting better than 40 percent from deep.
 
COMEBACK KIDS
Although it might seem unlikely for a team with a perfect 20-0 record on the season, Lubbock Christian has notched quite a few comeback wins this season. In fact, Thursday night's game against Midwestern State marked the eighth time this season that LCU has trailed by at least seven points in one of their games. MSU's even point lead came early, just 10:15 into the game, but the Chaps have faced tougher comebacks. Their largest deficit of the year was 13 points with 19:40 left in the second half at Angelo State last week, in the game that they won in double-overtime.
 
CLOSING IN
LCU head coach Todd Duncan earned his 195^th career win on Thursday night and is closing in on the career milestone of 200. Duncan's first season at LCU was 2011, and he is 195-107 all-time as the leader of the program. He has led LCU to three NCAA regional appearances in their six years of eligibility and was the Clarence Gaines D-II National Coach of the Year last season.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
For the ninth straight week, the Chaparrals are ranked No. 1 in both NCAA Division II national top-25 polls. They drew 398 points and 14 of the 16 first place votes in the NABC coaches poll, ranking ahead of Nova Southeastern. The Sharks are also ranked No. 2 in the D2SIDA media poll, behind LCU's 393 points and 12 (out of 16) first place votes. The Chaps have beaten three opponents who were ranked at the time of playing this season. They also beat Regis to start the year, and although the Rangers were not ranked at the time, they have since climbed to No. 15 in the NABC poll.
 
PROTECT THE RIP
Saturday's game is the 11^th of 14 total home games for Lubbock Christian. The Chaps are 10-0 on their own court so far this season with an average of 80.5 points per game on 51.8 percent shooting. Opponents entering the Rip have been held to just 58.6 points per game on 37.1 percent shooting. In the 10-plus seasons under head coach Todd Duncan, LCU is 119-27 at home (.809). Officially dedicated on October 9, 2000, the Rip Griffin Center has been the home of the Chaps for more than two decades and can seat 1,950 for sporting events.
 
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS

• DBU has just two conference losses this season. One came at Texas A&M-Commerce (73-64) and the other was against No. 12 West Texas A&M (72-65)
• The Patriots took on Eastern New Mexico on Thursday and faced a 17-point deficit in the first half before coming back to win 83-77
• DBU has attempted 517 three-pointers this season, which is the third-most in the LSC. They shoot 36.0 percent from behind the line
• Four different Patriots average double-figures, led by Cameron Kahn's 12.8 points per game
• The Patriots are the worst rebounding team in the LSC, averaging just 31.0 boards per game

 
THE SERIES WITH THE PATRIOTS
Lubbock Christian and Dallas Baptist have been meeting on the hardwood since the school's junior college game, and the series started back up in 1972 after LCU transitioned to a four-year school The Patriots lead the all-time series 31-19, and they have won each of the last four matchups. That includes the most recent meeting, which was a triple-overtime thriller on Dec. 5, 2019, that DBU claimed in the Rip Griffin Center. LCU's last win over DBU was almost exactly four years ago, when they beat the No. 22 Patriots 84-78 behind 28 points from Marcos Schuster and a double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds) from Isaac Asrat.