FRISCO, Texas (March 5, 2022) – Lubbock Christian University trailed by as many as 17 points on Saturday and very nearly completed the comeback in the Lone Star Conference Championship semifinals, but Jake Majors' corner three with six seconds left won the game for Texas A&M-Kingsville and kept their Cinderella run alive.
 
The Javelinas (18-9) hit two more free throws with less than a second left on the clock to beat the Chaps (26-3) 72-69 and advance to Sunday's championship game.
 
It was truly a tale of two halves for Lubbock Christian, as they shot only 44.8 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes (14.3 percent on three-pointers) and followed it up with 61.9 percent (57.1 percent on three-pointers in the second half).
 
LCU did not lead in the contest until the 1:34 mark in the second half when Rowan Mackenzie hit a three-pointer from the wing to put the Chaps on top 67-65. A minute later, TAMUK pulled even with 40 seconds left. Out of another Chap timeout, it looked like they had once again drawn up the winning play late. Lloyd Daniels made a cut down the baseline and Parker Hicks found him for an easy go-ahead layup.
 
The Javelinas had 15 seconds left though, and out of their own timeout, got the ball to Majors in the corner, where he hit a tough, contested three to win the game for his team.
 
A made three from Texas A&M-Kingsville was very reminiscent of the first half, when it seemed the Javelinas couldn't' miss from beyond the arc. They hit nine three-pointers in the half and shot 56.3 percent overall, pushing their lead out to double-figures less than 10 minutes into the game.
 
TAMUK went on a 6-0 run with under nine minutes to play to get up by as many as 17. The deficit was still that large for the Chaps with only 2:30 to play in the half, and they trailed by 13 at halftime.
 
Lubbock Christian quickly cut the deficit to single-digits in the second half and pulled within one with a full 10:31 remaining in the second half when Aamer Muhammad hit a three-pointer. Muhammad play a huge part in LCU coming back and even having a chance to win the game, scoring all 16 of his points in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
The Chaps couldn't get over the hump though, and Texas A&M-Kingsville even pulled back in front by as many as five at the 5:53 mark. Muhammad pulled LCU back within one with two straight layup before Mackenzie's three gave them a brief lead before the final sequence that won the Javelinas the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
After their scorching start, Texas A&M-Kingsville struggled to shoot in the second half and ended the game with a 45.9 field goal percentage, while the Chaps shot 52.0 percent overall. It is the first time all season that Lubbock Christian has lost a game while out-shooting their opponent from the field.
 
NEXT UP
LCU will now turn its focus to next week's NCAA South Central Regional Tournament. They will find out their seed and opponent for the first round in the selection show on Sunday night.