SAN ANGELO, Texas (January 18, 2024) – Lubbock Christian struggled against a stout Ram defense and fell to Angelo State 65-55 on the road Saturday.
 
The Chaparrals (12-6, 7-3) shot just 35.1 percent from the field – their second-lowest mark of the season – and scored a season-low 55 points. That included just 1-of-19 from behind the arc, which was their lowest in a single game since Nov. 19, 2015, when they were 0-for-7 on threes.
 
LCU had two players score in double-figures, led by Najeeb Muhammad, who had 14 points. Ethan Duncan scored 10 points and Caswell added eight points and 10 rebounds.
 
With shots not falling from behind the arc, LCU did most of their damage in the paint. They scored 36 points inside compared to just 26 from the Rams, who shot 42.6 percent from the field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Chaps scored the first basket of the game and kept things close in the first eight minutes, leading 11-10 at the 11:45 mark. ASU responded with a 6-0 run and never lost the lead again.
 
Angelo State continued to widen the lead, but never got further ahead than 10, which was where the gap stood at halftime. The Chaps were 0-for-9 on threes in the half, marking the first time this season they have gone an entire period without a make from behind the arc.
 
LCU continued to fight in  the second half though, and never trailed by more than 12. Down by that many with 13:43 left in the game, they went on an 11-0 run over the next four minutes, which included their only made three-pointer of the game, to pull within one.
 
Sterling Gaston-Chapman stopped the Chap offensive outburst with a layup on the other end and the Rams got a stop and a three-pointer to give themselves some breathing room.
 
The Chaps continued to score, getting the ball inside for a number of layups late in the game, but couldn't make stops on the other end to close the gap again.
 
GAME NOTES
» Lubbock Christian turned the ball over just two times in the game. It is their fewest in a single game since March 14, 2021, when they also turned it over twice against Oklahoma Baptist in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
» Najeeb Muhammad led the Chaparrals with 14 points. It was the second time this season he has led LCU in scoring and his ninth double-figure game of the year.
» Lubbock Christian got a team-high 10 rebounds from Ty Caswell. It is the first time he has reached double-figures in rebounding since Feb. 1, 2020, when he grabbed a career-high 14 in a win at UT Tyler.

This article was partially created using technology provided by Data Skrive.