LUBBOCK, Texas – The Lubbock Christian University men's basketball team defeated No. 6 Lincoln Memorial at home Friday, 89-71, at the Rip Griffin Center – winning its fourth consecutive season opener.
 
The game was back-and-forth in the opening minutes, until the Chaps went on a 20 to five run to take control of the game with 5:58 left to play in the first half. Lincoln Memorial did not come within 10 points of the Chaps for the remainder of the game.
 
It was an all-around effort for the Chaps as five players scored in double-digits led by Kendall Dow's 21 points off the bench. Najeeb Muhammad contributed 19 points in the win. Ethan Duncan and Tiras Morton scored 16 and 15 points – respectively, in their LCU debuts. Ty Caswell put up 10 points in his return to action.
 
The Chaps shot 15-for-36 (41.7%) from behind the arc against the Railsplitters with five different players draining three-point shots. Dow tallied five threes while Duncan dropped in four 3-pointers in the win.
 
Morton made an immediate impact on both ends of the court in his LCU debut, collecting a team-high eight rebounds and two blocks. He emphasized the Chaps' first half dominance with a two-handed put back dunk with 0.3 remaining in the half.
 
Lubbock Christian took a 44-29 lead into the locker room after shooting 50 percent from the field and holding LMU to just five points in the final two minutes of the period.
 
Jay Boyd led LMU overall with 14 points on 3-for-4 shooting. Martez Brown added 13 points for the Railsplitters.
 
LCU was out rebounded in the game 39-31, including a 13-7 mark on the offensive boards but was able to hold steady, forcing 13 LMU turnovers while taking care of the ball on the offensive end, finishing with 10 miscues.
 
UP NEXT
The Chaps will continue play in the CCA Tip-Off Classic on Sunday (Nov. 5) as the take on Northern Michigan at 7:30 p.m. inside the Rip Griffin Center.