LUBBOCK, Texas - A 30-12 run in the final 13:50 of the opening half helped Lubbock Christian pull away as the Chaps rolled over St. Edward's 82-57 on Thursday, Feb. 16.

After trading baskets in the opening minute, a three from Najeeb Muhammad and a layup by Aaron Gonzales gave LCU (17-8, 13-6) an early 7-2 advantage. The two teams then traded bars from deep, with Uche Dibiamaka and Gavino Ramos hitting a pair for the Hilltoppers (20-8, 12-8) before an answer from Rowan Mackenzie put the Chaparrals ahead 14-11 with 15:49 left in the first half.

Gonzales drove into the lane for another layup, kicking off a 6-0 run for the Chaps, with Russell Harrison connecting on a jumper to put LCU on top 20-11. Ramos hit another three-pointer, but a layup from Muhammad and five straight points from Harrison, punctuated by another shot from beyond the arc, swelled the LCU advantage to 29-14 with 9:26 remaining in the opening stanza.

Harrison hit another shot from downtown, before Vito Vujovic connected on the old-fashioned three-point play, pushing the Chaps ahead 35-16. A layup from Mackenzie doubled up the Hilltoppers 40-20, and threes from Kurt Wegscheider and Gonzales extended the advantage to 48-26. Another make from Harrison ended the half with LCU in complete control, ahead of St. Edward's 50-26 at the break.

Dibiamaka scored the first five points of the second half to try to will the Toppers back into the contest, but a triple from Mackenzie stopped the mini run to keep LCU ahead 55-31 with 17:06 left in the game. Mackenzie and Sean Elkinton traded a pair of makes from deep, but back-to-back layups from Wegscheider kept the Hilltoppers at bay, as the Chap lead swelled to 66-43 with 10:05 remaining in the game. 

Mackenzie dialed another call from long distance late in the half, and Vujovic drove inside for his second make in the paint of the game. Vujovic went on to score the final four points of the game from the charity stripe, as Lubbock Christian knocked off St. Edward's 82-57.

LCU scored 50 points in the first half, the fourth time this season the Chaps scored at least that many in a half this season. For the game, the Chaparrals shot 55.2 percent from the field, their fourth-highest mark of the season. On defense, Lubbock Christian held St. Edward's to 36.7 percent from the field, and only allowed the Hilltoppers to reach the charity stripe four times in the game. 

Mackenzie led the Chaps with 20 points, shooting 4-for-7 (57.1 percent) from three. The Aussie also had four rebounds and three assists. Harrison scored 16 points, hauling in a trio of boards.

Muhammad and Gonzales both flirted with double-doubles, with Muhammad scoring 11 points and pulling down nine rebounds, while also finishing with four steals. Gonzales scored nine points and had seven rebounds while also dishing out three assists. 

Wegscheider played his most complete game of the season, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Vujovic scored a career-high nine points, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.

Ramos led the Hilltoppers with 12 points. Elkinton flirted with a double-double, scoring nine points and hauling in eight rebounds.

The Chaps close out cross division play on Saturday, Feb. 18 with a Homecoming contest against St. Mary's. Tip-off is set for 3:00 PM inside the Rip Griffin Center. Fans can purchase tickets at lcuchaps.com.